McDonald: My Plans On Council

By JARET MCDONALD
GOP Candidate
Los Alamos County Council

I am a lifetime resident of Los Alamos. Both of my parents were employed with the Los Alamos schools for 29 years.

My dad, Jan McDonald, was Los Alamos High School band director and still continues to teach students privately.

My mother, Sheryl Parsons, was an elementary school teacher, who taught at each of the elementary schools in Los Alamos and White Rock. My wife, Jen, and I live in White Rock with our two rescue German Shepherds.

I am a proud member of Rotary and feel very strongly about giving back to the community. I am a small business owner as well as a cofounder of a local non-profit company. I am running for Council because I feel that I can offer some unique insight to issues here in Los Alamos. I serve as a commissioner for Planning and Zoning and on the Board of Adjustment. As a County Councilor, I would focus on the following:

PUBLIC SAFETY – I would like to see more support our local law enforcement, and ensure they have the tools needed to help keep us safe. This includes making sure the officers have avenues for the best training and the most modern equipment and technology. I want to engage the community to emphasize anti-drug and drunk driving efforts. Especially in regards to those programs that exist, and ones that could be created and developed through community input. I would want to see more officers and staff with vehicles both marked and unmarked. I would also like to see all of our officers carry Narcan, a life-saving treatment for opioid overdoses.

NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION – I would like to see rehabilitation or removal of vacant housing by engaging those home owners and local real estate agencies. This will keep our neighborhoods desirable, and help stabilize property values.

KEEPING IT LOCAL – I support and encourage local business, and would like to keep Los Alamos dollars in Los Alamos. In addition to conducting due diligence in regards to the effect of construction activities on local business, and minimizing the potential impact of the disruption of business, I would also like to see revitalization of current commercial property. Keeping the infrastructure up to date will only encourage more small business.

COUNTY CHARTER EDUCATION – I would like to educate county residents who may not be actively aware of our Charter and how it applies to our Government by improving communication between our government and citizens. We should have our Charter more accessible as well as have some type of audio video on the County website that describes how our Class H county government works.This is something that could potentially also be brought in to our schools.

COUNTY BUDGET – I would like to see our county be more fiscally responsible and ensurewe have a budget we can work to as well as a transparent process to the development of the budget. As to spending, I would like to focus on infrastructure improvements in the community. These assets provide the greatest service to the county and require significant investment.

EMPOWERING THE LESS FORTUNATE – I would like to see more county collaboration with local non-profits to ensure basic human necessities are met for our community. I would like to see programs that help to find jobs and housing for lower income. Los Alamos may have lower rates of homelessness and food insecurity in comparison to other counties, but there is still a major problem.

COMMUNITY RELATIONS – Continue and grow and foster relationships with local business, LANL, LAPS, National Park Service and all local Pueblos.

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