Jason Chappel

JASON CHAPPEL
Candidate
Los Alamos County Council

My name is Jason Chappel, and I am currently running for Los Alamos County Council. Like many people in this community, I wear a lot of hats: employee, neighbor, problem solver, resident, and someone who genuinely cares about the future of Los Alamos.

One of the biggest reasons I decided to run for Los Alamos County Council is because I believe people deserve to feel heard before major decisions affecting their daily lives and finances are made.

Recent discussions surrounding proposed natural gas and water rate increases, along with the recent GRT increase, have clearly struck a nerve across our community, and honestly, I understand why. Families are already dealing with rising costs everywhere they turn — groceries, utilities, housing, insurance, to name a few — and many residents feel like they are constantly being asked to absorb one more increase.

At the same time, I also recognize that infrastructure, maintenance, and long-term system reliability are real responsibilities. These issues are rarely as simple as a headline or a Facebook post makes them sound. The answer cannot simply be to “do nothing” and hope problems fix themselves later.

But this is exactly why transparency matters.

Residents deserve a clear explanation of why increases are being proposed, what alternatives were considered, what cost-saving measures have already been explored internally, and what the long-term plans look like. People are much more willing to work through difficult realities when they feel informed and respected instead of blindsided.

This should not be treated as a partisan issue. Republicans, Democrats, and Independents all pay the same utility bills, and these are community issues. In communities like Los Alamos and White Rock, decisions made at the board and council level directly affect retirees on fixed incomes, working families, single parents, and young people already struggling with affordability.

As someone running for County Council, I believe leadership means asking hard questions while also working toward practical solutions. It means balancing fiscal responsibility with compassion for the people expected to pay the bill.

I also believe we need to be careful not to turn disagreements into personal attacks. Public service often involves difficult decisions, and reasonable people can disagree on the best path forward. But residents still deserve accountability, open communication, and a seat at the table before major financial impacts move forward.

Whether these proposals ultimately advance or change, I hope this moment pushes all of us toward broader conversations about transparency, long-term planning, infrastructure priorities, and protecting everyone who calls Los Alamos County home — or hopes to call it home one day.

My hope is that moments like this also encourage more community involvement and curiosity about how local decisions are made. Too often, public conversations become reactive before people have access to the full picture, and that only creates more frustration and division.

We do not all have to agree on every issue. Healthy communities are built on discussion, debate, and different perspectives. But I believe we are at our best when residents take the time to ask questions, seek facts, stay informed, and think independently rather than simply reacting to headlines, social media posts, or political noise.

Transparency is not just the responsibility of elected officials. It also requires an engaged and informed community willing to participate in the process.

At the end of the day, taxpayers are not just numbers on a spreadsheet. They are our neighbors.