By Barbara Calef and Becky ShanklandIn the June 5 primary voters who are registered as Democrats, Republicans or Libertarians will be offered the opportunity to vote for candidates in their party.
Many of the positions are uncontested within each party. For instance, although there are four open seats, there is only one Libertarian candidate for County Council.
The League of Women Voters cordially invites voters to attend two candidate forums to hear the positions of candidates who are opposed within their own party in the June 5 primary.
The first forum is for the six Democrats running for County Council and the two Republicans running for County Sheriff. It will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 3, in Building 2 at UNM-LA, with refreshments and conversation with the candidates at 6:30 p.m.
The candidates for County Council (four positions open) are David Izraelevitz, Quentin David Dimick, Sara C Scott, James N Robinson, Randall T Ryti and Timothy Thomas Morrison (all Democrats). The candidates for County Sheriff are James William Whitehead and Hugh J Rich (both Republicans).
On Wednesday, May 9, we will hold a forum at Fuller Lodge, also beginning at 7 p.m., with refreshments at 6:30 p.m. For the second forum we have invited the candidates for
First Judicial District Court Judge, Divisions 2 and 5.
For Division 2 the candidates are Gregory S. Shaffer, Donna M Bevaqua-Young, Maria E. Sanchez-Gagne, and Jerry A. Archuleta. For Division 5 the candidates are Jason Lidyard and Matthew Jackson. All of the judicial candidates are Democrats; there is no Republican opposition. Hence, the winner in each division will become the only candidate for the November election.
Also coming are House District 43 Democratic candidates Pete Sheehey and Christine Chandler.
Before the general election in November, we will hold a round of forums for ALL of the candidates on the November ballot.
We hope that Los Alamos voters will take the opportunity to educate themselves about our candidates at these forums.
