League of Women Voters Primary Candidate’s Forum Spotlights Contested Races

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on May 30, 2014
- 6:55 pm

A large crowd turns out for the LWVLA Primary Candidate’s Forum May 14 at Fuller Lodge. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

From left, Democratic County Council candidates Edward R. Birnbaum, Michael D. Redondo, David Izraelevitz, Andrea Susan Cunningham and Mary Susan O’Leary who is answering a question from the audience. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

House Dist. 43 candidate Geoff Rodgers addresses the audience. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

House Dist. 43 candidate Vincent Chiravalle speaks to the crowd. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Staff Report

The community turned out in a big way for the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos Primary Candidate’s Forum May 14 at Fuller Lodge. Candidates in contested positions for the June 3 primary election participated, with the exception of Rep. Ben Ray Lujan who sent a statement read at the event.

Robert Blanch, Lujan’s Democratic opponent for the 3rd Congressional District seat presented a statement but League policy did not allow him to answer questions because of Lujan’s absence.

The two Republican candidates vying for the Dist. 43 House of Representatives seat participated in the forum including Vincent P. Chiravalle and Geoff Rodgers. The three Democratic judges for District Court Division 6 also presented statements and fielded questions from the League and the audience, including incumbent Matthew Justin Wilson, Yvonne K. Quintana and David K. Thomson. The five Democratic candidates for County Council participated in the forum as well including Edward R. Birnbaum, Andrea Susan Cunningham, Mary Susan O’Leary, David Izraelevitz and Michael D. Redondo.

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging informed and active participation in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy. The organization does not support or oppose any political party or candidate.

The League of Women Voters has two separate and distinct roles. Voters Service/Citizen Education – presenting unbiased nonpartisan information about elections, the voting process and issues. Action/Advocacy – the organization is nonpartisan, but, after study, uses its positions to advocate for or against particular policies in the public interest.

The League is guided by the principles of the League of Women Voters, the bylaws of the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos, and by national, state and local positions adopted after study of the issues.

Yvonne Quintana, candidate for district judge answers a question from the audience. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

David K. Thomson candidate for district judge speaks to the audience. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Robert Blanch, candidate for the 3rd Congressional District delivers his statement. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

LWVLA President Barbara Calef explains the ground rules for the forum. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

LWVLA Voter Services Director Lynn Jones briefs the audience on voting details for the June 3 Primary Election. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos High School students Angela Feng, left, shared the microphone with audience members who wanted to ask questions of the candidates and Emma Lathrop served as timekeeper. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Appointed County Councilor David Izraelevitz is running to retain his seat on council. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

Sheriff Marco Lucero and his wife Sandy speak with Los Alamos Attorney Reid Griffith before the forum gets underway. Lucero is unopposed in the primary but faces Republican Jaret McDonald in the general election in November. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com