mailingstate
NM
Occupation
Retired
Filing County
Los Alamos
As a 30-year resident, I care about our community and count my ability to listen and understand multiple points of view as a key asset for service on Council. I began my career as a CPA, auditing local governments, including Los Alamos County. During my 28-year career at Los Alamos County, I contributed as Chief Financial Officer and County Manager, attended hundreds of Council meetings and worked with a wide variety of Councilors. My board service includes the Los Alamos Community Foundation.
The County Council can continue to optimize the use of public land for needed housing, including the use our affordable housing programs to incentivize affordable options as much as practical. Focusing on and incentivizing in-fill and redevelopment projects could also help with downtown revitalization and economic development. Enhancing use of the Local Economic Development Act (including retail) and the Metropolitan Redevelopment Act will help with both these priorities.
Modest growth could help address housing demand and support our community including businesses, infrastructure, schools, and LANL staff. Suggested strategies have included supporting in-fill and redevelopment opportunities as much as possible, and I agree. Factors such as traffic and roadway impacts, utility requirements and school capacities need to be considered and managed to mitigate unintended consequences of growth, and to maintain our community priorities including open space access.
I have worked with community members in the past to assess and prioritize capital projects. Hearing and understanding citizens’ thoughts and concerns about potential projects is a vital preliminary step. Factors that should be considered when prioritizing projects include alignment with the community’s identified strategic goals, cost effectiveness, funding leverage, future operating costs, and population served. As needs evolve, continued dialogue with community members is essential.
mailingstate
nm
Filing County
Los Alamos
I've served on various corporate, civic, volunteer and political boards over the last 30 years, both as executive officers and policy board member.
The County government can influence the creation of more housing by keeping in mind that time and regulatory friction increase costs. You can't get affordable housing as long as building costs are extremely high.
While the costs of the trades (electrical/plumbing/hvac/construction) are largely outside of the influence of the County government, Land use, planning and all administrative delay and friction can be improved by the County Council.
The Comprehensive Plan must be expanded to include new housing construction outside of the LA/WR city centers. Restricting almost all new housing to MultiStory construction will never result in affordable housing without government money as subsidy to construction costs.
The only solution to housing prices is to increase housing supply. More land must be made available by LANL/LACounty/? and the LAC must have a sense of urgency to permit and construct that housing development.
Those projects that have the greatest impact on business formation and growth should have the highest priority. Next I would place environmental concerns: Massively expanded electric vehicle charging stations for instance. Purely aesthetic projects should have lowest priority.
Occupation
Assistant Store Leader, Smith's Food & Drug (Marketplace)
Filing County
Los Alamos
I bring a practical, real- world perspective that is shaped by my work as an Assistant Store Leader at Smith's Marketplace in Las Alamos where I manage daily operations, budgets, and team leadership. I've also served as the Vice Chair of the Los Alamos Schools Credit Union, Vice Chair of the Los Alamos County Public Library Board and as a member of the Los Alamos County Transportation Board. As a veteran, I value accountability, teamwork and service; principles I'll bring to the council.
The County should increase housing supply by streamlining permitting, updating zoning where appropriate, and prioritizing workforce housing so that people who work here have a fair opportunity to live here. We also need to reduce unnecessary red tape that makes it harder for businesses to open and grow, and better utilize existing vacant spaces. Practical reforms can move both forward together.
Los Alamos and White Rock should pursue thoughtful and measured growth that supports housing and local businesses without losing what makes these communities special. Growth is necessary but should be done right. It should focus on existing areas and infrastructure and not expansion for the sake of it. As we grow, we will need to balance housing, traffic, and density with quality of life, guided by practical planning and community input.
I would prioritize projects based on community impact, long-term value, and financial responsibility. Core infrastructure, public safety, and projects that support housing and economic development should come first. We also need to take a closer look at costs, avoid unnecessary spending, and limit overreliance on outside consultants, not what looks good on paper. Just as important, the community should be involved earlier in the process, not after projects are already developed.
mailingstate
NM
Occupation
Retired
Filing County
Los Alamos
Los Alamos County Councilor since January 2023; Chair in 2025. Currently President of the Board of the Unitarian Church; served on other non-profit Boards. Retired from LANL in 2020; many years in management (environment, safety, health, and facilities). Volunteered as youth sports coach and Mexico Mission youth advisor; raised two children in Los Alamos. Knowledge of how the County operates; budgets; decision-making; familiarity with Schools, businesses, and community organizations/activities.
Council is taking actions, but progress is slow. Affordable housing projects: DP Road apartments, 9th St, apartments, and A8A housing project on DP Road. Market-rate housing projects underway to add to housing inventory. Council approved MRAs in Los Alamos and White Rock and small business LEDA process for developers and businesses. Council also worked with the Local/Small Business Coalition to identify actions to support their needs and encourage business development; implementation underway.
County should focus growth primarily on redevelopment of blighted areas and development of County-owned lands (not open space). County Building Code now allows higher buildings in Downtown MRAs and more infill. Trade-off is the view; loss of “small town” feel. Little remaining land transfer expected from DOE; I am opposed to transfer of other federal government land to the County for development. ADUs might be considered. Growth should be limited to what the current infrastructure can sustain.
Projects that are necessary to provide basic services (roads, infrastructure) and ensure the safety of the community (fire station replacement, social services hub) should be a higher priority. Priority should also be given to maintaining what we already have (ball fields, parks, ice rink) before building something new. New projects (North Mesa Recreation) should be evaluated based on their overall value to the community and their ability to support the local economy.
mailingstate
New Mexico
Occupation
Retired
Filing County
Los Alamos
I’m currently on the UNM-LA Advisory Board, Planning & Zoning Commission, Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, Transportation Advisory, Environmental Sustainability, Personnel, and Amigos del Rancho Los Luceros, having previously served on Parks & Recreation, Board of Registration, Cooperative Market, and Arts Council. I’ve attended almost all County Council meetings since 2021, including Strategic Leadership Planning and Budget Hearings. I retired from LANL Project Controls in 2017.
For housing, the Development Code needs to be re-examined relating to accessory dwelling units, parking minimums, minimum lot sizes, minimum dwelling sizes, setbacks, and zoning densities.
For redevelopment, pursue financial tools made available to us within our MRAs in Los Alamos and White Rock, and through LEDA.
Work with our regional partners, like the Pueblo de San Ildefonso, to develop a regional tourism approach. Re-examine our approach to contracting, especially with our non-profits.
Previous studies indicate growth to 27,000-30,000 people. Start by adding 2,500 new units, most of which are already approved, and possibly go higher, depending on infrastructure constraints, with affordable housing a priority. Focus primarily on infill and redevelopment in our downtown areas, with some gentle density in our other neighborhoods. Promote downtown walkability and provide additional public transportation options around transit oriented development and sustainable business.
I’d prioritize in this order: Deferred Infrastructure Maintenance, Broadband, Social Services Facilities, ADA Compliance, NM4 Crossing, Streets (Central).
mailingstate
NM
Occupation
Los Alamos County Councilor, Retired from LANL
Filing County
Los Alamos
I am in my fifth year serving as a Los Alamos County Councilor. I bring experience, formal training, and a strong understanding of current issues. I served on multiple County Boards since the 1990s and regional boards while on Council.
Before retiring from LANL, I worked in group and team leadership, land use planning, project development/management, construction management, and environmental programs.
I have a Master's in Organizational Management, Bachelor's in Environmental Design.
Council should continue efforts working with developers to improve housing availability and variety. Los Alamos County needs housing options to support a range of income levels for workers who sustain our local and small businesses and LANL/DOE Programs. I strongly support regional collaboration, recognizing that much of our workforce lives throughout northern New Mexico and that our housing and workforce solutions must reflect this broader reality.
Growth is limited by available land and the level of density residents want. More people increase pressure on aging infrastructure, requiring costly upgrades. These expenses can fall on today’s taxpayers while benefits go to future residents and visitors. Growth decisions must balance community preferences, infrastructure capacity, and long‑term financial responsibility to ensure fairness and sustainability.
Project priorities should be guided by citizen input, with emphasis on safety, health, and operational needs. Expansion can occur as funding and public interest allow. Priorities must align with the Council’s Strategic Leadership Plan, include estimates and alternatives, seek State and Federal funding, and coordinate with the County budget to ensure efficiency and essential services. Also, it’s important to support fun activities and creative ways to keep our community engaged.
mailingstate
NM
Occupation
Engineer
Filing County
Los Alamos
I've been a member of the Board of Public Utilities for the past 6 years. In that time i have interacted with County Council, different boards, and County Legal. I'm familiar with the structure of County Government.
There is not as much available land as there are empty buildings. LANL is hiring more people and they will need places to live. I will work with the Council and LANL to investigate opportunities to work together to provide more housing. Building higher structures in the place of empty buildings might be an option.
The County does not have many options in terms of accessing more land. We are surrounded by DOE, tribal lands, and BLM. We can work with LANL to see if there are mutually beneficial opportunities. In terms of population growth, yes, there are trade-offs. More traffic, possibility for more crime. More kids in schools, altering the teacher-student ratio. Strained medical care. Growth is inevitable and these will be some of the challenges we will have to face.
Prioritize the projects that benefit the highest number of people and resonate with the community.
