Letter to the Editor: LAGRI Logic
Robert A. Pelak and Skip Dunn
Los Alamos Governmental Review Initiative
In a recent letter Fire Chief (Doug) MacDonald questions “LAGRI logic” and cites its opposition to the current charter amendments.
Let’s set the record straight: “LAGRI logic” (Los Alamos Governmental Review Initiative) is founded on its commitment to public participation in local government.
The original LAGRI petition sought to provide voters brand new opportunities to vote on capital projects.
The opportunities to vote on projects indirectly through bonds essentially disappeared Read More
Forum Targets Business and Economic Issues
Los Alamos County Council candidates participated in Thursday’s Chamber/Monitor forum that focused on business and economic issues. Monitor Publisher Keven Todd moderated the event and LACDC/Chamber Board Member Stan Primak and Monitor Editor John Severance questioned the candidates. Photo by Kevin Holsapple
CHAMBER News:
The six candidates running for three seats on the Los Alamos County Council participated in Thursday’s Chamber/Monitor forum focused on business and economic issues. The event was held at UNM-Los Alamos.
“The candidates collectively did Read More
Column: Whose Pants Are On Fire?
By Mandy Marksteiner,Democrats are pushing your hot buttons … and they know it!
Early voting is upon us, and I’ve been getting anti-Jim Hall mailings daily.
Obviously, voters in House District 43 can make intelligent decisions based on facts and logic.
But it’s still worth examining how these mailers are trying to manipulate voters’ emotions.
Image Distortion
The person who designed a recent mailer, paid for by the Democratic Party of New Mexico, went to great lengths to make Rep. Jim Hall look like a sinister liar.
Starting with a regular photo Read More
Letter to the Editor: Charter Revision Not Citizen-Sensitive
By Joel M. WilliamsWHEREAS two [2 (!)] of the seven current Councilors were not elected by the voters and both will still be seated for another two years without being subjected to voter approval even after we vote in the upcoming general election, (remember that the councilor appointed by the Councilors before these two was not reseated by voters at the end of his term); and
WHEREAS it is possible for the Council to have none of its members voter-elected, but all self-appointed by those seated and remain so for nearly two-years until some of “their” terms end; and
WHEREAS it is possible Read More
Jim Hall Reponds to Financial Disclosure Issue
ProgressNow NM issued the following press release to media outlets Friday:
“Candidate claims to have “no contact” with PACs, but finance reports tell different story”
“State Rep. Jim Hall recently took it upon himself to publicly declare in the Los Alamos Daily Post, “I have had no contact with any PAC.” And, in Jim Hall’s world, he hasn’t. But public records tell a different story.
“Campaign finance reports filed by the Governor’s PAC, Susana PAC, show a $2,500 contribution to “Jim Hall for State Rep” Read More
Hall Agrees to Garcia Richard’s Invitation for Final Debate
Stephanie Garcia Richard
Staff Report
Republican Rep. Jim Hall, candidate for House Dist. 43 was unable to attend the Santa Fe League of Women Voters forum in Santa Fe Wednesday.
“I notified the League Monday that an unforeseen personal issue came up that I had to attend to and informed them that I would not be able to make the forum,” Hall said this morning.
He pointed out that Richard Garcia was unable to attend Tuesday’s Los Alamos Kiwanis debate and had a representative substitute for her.
Rep. Jim Hall
“The League does not allow substitutes so I provided them Read More
Letter to the Editor: The Irony of it All
By Chief MAC (Doug MacDonald)I understand the Los Alamos Government Review Initiative’s (LACRI) are in opposition of the proposed amendments the Charter Review Committee (CRS) has recommended to the initiative and referendum provisions of the Charter; under the premise that the proposed signature requirements of 15 percent and timeframes of 60/90 days for referendums/initiatives are onerous.
I find LAGRI’s posture troubling. In January 2010 I attended a public meeting scheduled by the County Council.
The single topic of the meeting was to discuss LAGRI’s petitions Read More
Letter to the Editor: Vote ‘Yes’ on Charter Ballot Questions
By Kevin Holsapple Public Invited to Hall Campaign Rally with Governor
ELECTION 2012 News:
Gov. Susana Martinez will be in Los Alamos Sunday afternoon to attend a Campaign Rally for Republican Rep. Jim Hall, candidate for House Dist. 43.
Community members are invited to this event, which takes place from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Hilltop House Hotel and includes food, drinks and live music. Read More
Jefferson Byrd to Hold Townhall Oct. 24 in Los Alamos
GOP News:
District 3 Republican Congressional Candidate Jefferson Byrd will hold a Townhall in Los Alamos next week.
The community is invited to join Byrd at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Los Alamos GOP Headquarters, 1362 Trinity Dr, Suite D1.
Letter to the Editor: Proposed Charter Changes Rectify Shortcomings
By Ken Milder
Former County Councilor
When changes to our County Charter are proposed, I usually look at such proposals with a somewhat jaundiced eye.
Our Charter, after all, has served us well, with only minor changes, for nearly 45 years.
This is true for the most part. But, after so many years we start to see what works and what does not.
For many years the initiative, referendum, and recall provisions of the Charter have lacked clarity and, at times, inhibited the community’s effort to proceed with needed improvements.
The proposed changes rectify those shortcomings.
The grouping of the Charter Read More
U.S. Attorney Names New Mexico District Election Officer
FBI News:
ALBUQUERQUE—U.S. Attorney Kenneth J. Gonzales announced Wednesday that Assistant U.S. Attorney Jonathon M. Gerson will lead his office’s efforts in connection with the Justice Department’s nationwide Election Day Program for the upcoming Nov. 6 general elections.
As the District Election Officer for the District of New Mexico, AUSA Gerson is responsible for overseeing the district’s handling of complaints of election fraud and voting rights abuses in consultation with Justice Department Headquarters in Washington.
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring Read More
Council Candidates Address Education at UNM-LA Forum
From left, student government representative Santana Garcia-Chang serving as moderator, Republican Marc Clay, Republican Steven Girrens, Democrat Kristin Henderson, Democrat Michael Redondo and Democrat Pete Sheehey. Photo by Bonnie Gordon
By Bonnie J. Gordon
Education was the topic of a forum for Los Alamos County Council Candidates sponsored by the UNM-LA Student Government Association Tuesday, Oct. 16.
Candidates Marc Clay, Steven Girrens, Kristin Henderson, Michael Redondo and Peter Sheehey attended the forum. Candidate Vincent Chiravalle was unable to attend.
Student Read More
Los Alamos Daily Post Launches Candidates Poll
The Los Alamos Daily Post is running four un-scientific Facebook candidates polls.
The questions are (Click each question to go to the Facebook poll):
Who do you support for State Representative Dist 43?
Who is your 1st choice for County Council?
Who is your 2nd choice for County Council?
Who is your 3rd choice for County Council?
As with most things on Facebook, the votes are viewable by the public. Make sure to press the “Like” button at the top of the Los Alamos Daily Post Facebook page while on the page.
Multiple votes for a single council candidate will be dropped from totals, Read More
Letter to the Editor: Responding to Lies in Super-PAC Mailers
By Stephanie Garcia RichardLos Alamos, Santa Fe, Sandoval and Rio Arriba Counties
Dear Voters,
As a mother and a teacher, I find the recent tactics employed by Reform New Mexico Now unacceptable, no matter how grave the stakes are in our race for State House.
Many of you have received the recent mailers claiming I would support the largest tax increase in New Mexico history, yet none of the attacks cite actual facts.
That is because it couldn’t be further from the truth. The truth is that since 2010, I have stood up for taxation reform that would Read More
Oppenheimer Place Residents Host Candidate Chats
From left, hostess Frances Kendall, Ann Wells, Moderator Bob Wells and Mary Ella Buckland at Oppenheimer Place during Saturday’s candidates chat. Photo by Don Kendall/ladailypost.com
Staff Report
In an effort to ensure that all residents at Oppenheimer Place, known as the “senior condos” have every opportunity to be informed voters, they organized and hosted two “chat with the candidates” events.
Frances Kendall and Bob Wells hosted a tea and cookies event Saturday in which residents chatted with County Council candidates and Dist. 43 House candidate Read More
Governor to Attend Jim Hall Campaign Rally Sunday
ELECTION 2012 News:Letter to the Editor: Proposed Charter Changes Achieve Goal
By Ralph L. PhelpsWhen I was selected to join the Charter Review Committee, I approached the task very cautiously and conservatively because any changes that might be recommended required a very thorough vetting process to ensure the right decisions were made to our community’s fundamental law.
My fellow committee members were equally dedicated, and we had many open and transparent discussions at public meetings that explored the issues from all aspects, bringing out researched facts and practical examples of what needed to be changed.
In the end, our report to council Read More
Letter to the Editor: The Ballot Questions
Councilor Mike WismerAs part of the ballot for the November election, Los Alamos voters are being presented with proposed changes to the Initiative, Referendum and Recall provisions of the Charter, and the process for future Charter amendments.
We fully agree with the notion that changes to the Charter should only be made after thoughtful and deliberate consideration.
The Charter Review Committee provided that analysis after months of open and respectful dialogue.
We support the proposed Read More
Letter to the Editor: We Deserve Better – Vote NO on Charter Amendments
By Robert Pelak
I recently participated in a League of Women Voters forum to express my opposition to the four proposed amendments to the Los Alamos County Charter that are on this year’s election ballot.
The Los Alamos Daily Post recently published a letter from Kyle Wheeler stating that, at that forum, I said that “the way the Charter Review Committee grouped the items makes sense.” I am writing this letter to explain that the above statement is
an exaggeration of my comments. I do not support the way these amendments have been grouped and I oppose the tremendous toughening Read More