Letters to the Editor

By ANDY WOLFSBERG
Los Alamos

For those of you who haven’t voted already, and I know the number is decreasing rapidly, I hope you’ll consider voting for Jim Rickman for County Council.

When I distill all the reasons for doing so, it comes down to this: Jim is a truly decent human being and he cares about Los Alamos with all his heart. I grew up with Jim here in Los Alamos, went on student council road trips to Portales, double-dated at high school dances, and always found that he could make people feel good about themselves and about this special place we live in.

Jim and I both came back to Los Alamos, started

By LIDDIE MARTINEZ
President, Los Alamos Region
Enterprise Bank & Trust

We have just launched our fall fundraising campaign with our community partner, United Way of Northern New Mexico. During these unprecedented times, we are proud to support an organization that understands the difficult challenges individuals face in our region.

United Way strives to help vulnerable members of our community by supporting programs that address health, education and financial stability. As a longtime donor and board member, I have the opportunity to witness the direct impact of our 35-year relationship.

KARYL ANN ARMBRUSTER 
NM Public Education Commissioner
District 4 (2014-2020)

I wholeheartedly endorse Rebekka Burt for the position of Public Education Commissioner for District 4.

She is the only one who called me prior to submitting her name to ask the amount of time commitment required (lots), what the Commission’s responsibilities actually were, and exactly how charter schools were assessed and evaluated.

She shows true passion and dedication to the position and has taken an active role in her two daughters education. Only Bekka has attended PEC meetings in person as well as Zoom PEC

By SAM AND SHAY KENDRICKS
Los Alamos

As members of our community for over 23 years, we feel we can offer some perspective that may be of value as you determine your upcoming vote for County Council.

My wife, Shay and I, are encouraged and happy to see a diverse group of citizens running for local office and thank each of them for stepping up to help our community. However, in our minds, one County Council candidate offers a unique perspective and singular experience that no other candidate can match.

Experience, now more than ever, matters as choices are made that will shape the future of Los Alamos. 

By TJ TAUB
Santa Fe

Democrats today are doing the same thing Hillary did four years ago. IGNORING THE PARTIES! Republican hypocrisy and stone-walling vs Democrat goals and accomplishments:

The hypocrisy that four years ago, when Justice Scalia died in FEBRUARY 2016 almost nine months before the election, Republicans (McConnell) said ‘the people had to have a voice’ and Scalia wasn’t replaced for almost a full year. But now they want to replace a Supreme in the 47 days between Justice Ginsberg’s death and the presidential election.

The hypocrisy of criticizing Obamacare since its inception

By DAVID REAGOR
Republican Candidate
Los Alamos County Council

Mr. Strauss misquotes everything in the article and then rebuts statements that are not said (link).

The article in the Revolver states that about 2 million life-years are lost due to the Coronavirus. They just use CDC data from a few weeks ago. Most of the victims have 5-10 years of life lost. There are a tiny number of child victims with 72 years lost. The authors just add up all the age categories using CDC data and get a total near 2 million. It is very simple and compelling.  

Then they look at the public health effect of unemployment.

By DAWN MARIE MALDONADO
Los Alamos

New Mexico fails … the Governor is right. NM fails to employ, NM fails to educate, all because NM leadership fails to grasp reality.

COVID is an airborne virus. All of us will be exposed to it. Hospitals are standing by. Living in fear of the inevitable is detrimental to us all.

Leaders need to inspire courage along with caution. Let us live our lives. Stop the fearful messages. We are stronger than we are being told we are. We must be released to live our lives! We must be released to pursue our jobs so we can support our families! No more fear.

Elect leadership that has

By WES MYERS
Los Alamos

A few days ago I voted for Jim Rickman for Los Alamos County Council. Here’s why: 

I first met Jim many years ago through interactions I had with him when we both worked at the Lab. He impressed me with his leadership and expertise in public affairs, his broad awareness of the Lab’s operations, and his ability to understand multiple facets of complex situations and work toward mutually agreeable solutions.

In particular, I was impressed with his insights into the importance of the symbiotic relationship between the Lab and the community wherein the Lab underpins the economic

By DIANNE COANE
Los Alamos

I am voting for David Reagor for County Council because I believe that he is the best candidate for that position. David has a vested interest in Los Alamos and White Rock.

David has lived in White Rock for 34 years and is determined to keep our town thriving and moving forward.

David and his wife have two children who attended Chamisa Elementary, Los Alamos Middle School, and graduated from Los Alamos High School. They are now in medical school and law school.

David has innovative ideas for redevelopment projects for the White Rock business district and the Hill. He will

By SEAN WILLIAMS
Democratic Candidate
Los Alamos County Council

Aaron Walker has taken the unusual step of endorsing a candidate for county council, but maybe that’s appropriate for an independent.

Why am I, as a major party candidate, endorsing someone outside my party? Because to me, being a democrat isn’t about the color of your jersey: it’s about the ideals you hold.

Aaron talks about honesty and transparency, and I agree that these are vital to sound governance. To me, the most important trait of an elected official is a willingness to stick up for the powerless—after all, the powerful don’t

By SUSAN LAINTZ
Los Alamos

I am writing in support of Denise Derkacs, candidate for Los Alamos County Council.

Because of Denise’s exemplary work ethic, attention to detail, and tenacity to objectively research all aspects of an issue, several people have already written in support. Her 38 year involvement in our community through work, schools, and citizen’s boards has earned her the respect of many. I would like to add my voice, but from a different perspective, as her next-door neighbor of 15 years.

What makes a wonderful neighbor? I’m sure everyone will have a different idea, but for me a few

By SCOT JOHNSON
Los Alamos

Jim Rickman is competing for a seat on the County Council. If, during my decades in Los Alamos, you ever asked me who would serve well on the County Council, Jim Rickman is surely one of the first names that I would have offered.

I first met Jim at New Mexico State University in 1986. Jim was a philosophy major, and I recall him saying that his career goal was to “stand up to corporations and fight for the common man”.

Jim has been a real asset to this county for decades; as a first-rate communications specialist at the Lab, as a part-time bike mechanic, and even as a County Council

By LINDA HULL
Los Alamos

Please join my husband and me in voting for James Rickman for County Council.  As a former County Councilor (1996-2000) and as a LANL retiree in Public Affairs, James is an experienced leader with a clear vision for Los Alamos County that focuses on maintaining, and improving upon, those characteristics that have drawn—and that keep—so many of us here. 

James will work diligently to maintain the qualities of life that are so important to our community, both Los Alamos and White Rock. These include considerate support of small business endeavors, protection of our treasured

By CHARLIE STRAUSS
Los Alamos

David Reagor, who is running for country council previously published his startling view point that progressive Democrats as a whole are morally unfit for any public office. https://ladailypost.com/reagor-progressive-democrats-abandon-the-moral-code-of-abraham-lincoln/

He has been equally emphatic, and wrong, on his reasoning skills in the COVID crisis. 

In the Oct. 12 Los Alamos Daily Post, he states that “In the USA the disease has cost 200,000 lives and a total of 2 million life-years lost. The lockdown has put almost 20 million people out

By JOHN R. GUSTAFSON
Los Alamos

I am writing to express my support for James Rickman, County Council candidate.

I have known James for most of my 30 years in Los Alamos and had the pleasure of supporting his previous successful run for County Council. We were co-workers in the Public Affairs Office at LANL during tumultuous times that included the Cerro Grande Fire, an espionage case that drew intense national attention, and a major discrimination lawsuit against the Lab. James was throughout a steady partner, able to sift through tons of information and make it accessible for the news media and

By COLLEEN and JACK HANLON
Los Alamos

What would you say is the most basic and important thing we all possess? Of course, it’s life; without life, nothing else matters.

Life must be protected in all situations. If not, the respect for the life of the challenged, the disabled, the weak, and the old will be slowly taken away, just as it is now being taken away from some of the unborn.

Every created person has a right to life from conception to natural death. And, we should not concede that right to anybody else.  

Our parents were obviously pro life; that’s why we are here. Should we do any less for others? 

By KARYL ANN ARMBRUSTER
Los Alamos

I want to thank the Los Alamos Police for the assistance in the “Ridin with Biden” (campaign event) … as well as for many local and state candidates (Christine Chandler, Leo Jaramillo, Denise Derkus, Ben Ray Luján, Joseph Maestas and more) last Saturday.

It was amazingly well orchestrated and planned. Although I am unsure how many officers were involved, I can make two observations:

• First, they were polite, efficient, and made sure everyone in the 40 car/truck caravan was safe and accounted for. They stopped traffic for all of us who had our lights and emergency