By PETE SHEEHEY
House Dist. 43 Candidate

A very important part of my job as a County Councilor is to go to as many community meetings as I can. At these meetings I learn and offer information, but most importantly, I listen to the concerns that are expressed. In addition to public meetings, I answer questions and exchange ideas with people when I ride the bus, shop at the Co-op, eat at fundraisers, go to church or the YMCA, or attend the many cultural, arts, music, educational and recreational activities that Los Alamos has to offer.

I attended three related events recently: the student walkout at LAHS in solidarity with survivors of the Florida school shooting (https://ladailypost.comcontent/lahs-shows-solidarity-florida-high-school), the candlelight vigil on the same subject (https://ladailypost.comcontent/los-alamos-honors-victims-florida-school-shooting), and a presentation and roundtable discussion, sponsored by United Way of Northern New Mexico, on how we can improve behavioral health in Los Alamos.

I was honored to receive an invitation from the walkout student leader, to show my support, and to listen to their ideas. Students spoke with impressive understanding of the legal issues involved in preventing the tragic incidents we’re seeing too often.

At the presentation on improving behavioral health, we learned how early intervention for mental health problems, especially in schools, can save lives and save the much greater expense of treating people, often in jails, with deeper mental illness. LA County’s public health office, across the street from LAHS, had its hours and services cut back last year by the state. That office can be an important place for students to get help with physical and mental problems. I will move in next month’s County budget hearings to increase its funding from the County, to help keep our students healthier and safer.

I also attended a recent meeting (https://ladailypost.comcontent/community-weighs-camp-may-water-pipeline) called by the Forest Service, for its Environmental Assessment on the proposed water pipeline to the Pajarito Ski Area. The County sent staff, but I was the only Councilor present.

Concerns about costs and condo development were raised. The County and landowner will actually each pay 50 percent of the cost, the pipeline will remain County property, and the owner will pay for the water delivered. Our primary benefit is that the 10 million gallon pond on top of Pajarito will be kept full for firefighting. The pond’s water was used in 2011 to stop the Las Conchas fire from spreading to the ski area and town. The pipeline will also help keep Pajarito economically viable as a ski area and year-round recreational asset.

Our citizens made it loud and clear that continued public access to the mountain is a priority. On building condos, the entire property is presently zoned for recreation. To rezone part of that to residential would be a major change to the County comprehensive plan, and the entire community has legal standing to oppose that.

The ski area deal is between the Ski Club, Pajarito Recreation Group LLC, and LANB, the mortgage holder. The County has leverage to ensure public access because of our participation in building the pipeline.  I was at the meeting to learn and to supply all the information I had.  Our citizens deserve transparency as this deal goes forward.
It is essential for all elected officials to listen to the people they represent, and to give them the details of what their government is doing. That is how I do my job as a Councilor, and that is how I will do the job if elected as our next State Representative. I’ve been knocking on doors and listening to citizens throughout this diverse District, from La Cienega and western Santa Fe in Santa Fe County, to Jemez Springs and Cuba in Sandoval County, to Gallina in Rio Arriba County, to Los Alamos and White Rock in Los Alamos County.

People throughout this District want the same things: good affordable education and health care, and a safer, healthier and more prosperous State. We can learn from other states and nations that are achieving these goals. Take a look at my website, petesheehey.com; I welcome your ideas. I would be honored to serve as the next District 43 State Representative.