Members of the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos listen as co-chair Becky Shankland speaks to Los Alamos County Council Tuesday evening. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

League of Women Voters of Los Alamos co-chairs Becky Shankland, left, and Barbara Calef address Los Alamos County Council Tuesday. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Los Alamos County Councilor Katrina Martin wears her League of Women Voters sash at Tuesday night’s County Council meeting. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Los Alamos County Council Chair Sara Scott also sported her LWV sash at Tuesday’s County Council meeting. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

Members of the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos turned out in force at Tuesday’s Los Alamos County Council meeting.  Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com

Members of the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos were presented with a proclamation Tuesday evening at the Los Alamos County Council meeting congratulating them on their 73rd anniversary and commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the founding of the League of Women Voters of the United States and women’s right to vote.

Co-chair Becky Shankland said the LWV had been exploring the archives maintained by the Los Alamos Historical Society and had learned that the Los Alamos League was founded in 1947 to get the vote for Los Alamos residents. She said in 1948, three League members registered in Sandoval County but that the state Supreme Court declared their actions illegal because it was federal land.

Shankland said the next push for the LWV was to help Los Alamos develop self-government.

“Even that was hard. The first proposed charter, in 1964, was rejected by the voters and the second was passed in 1964,” she said.

Shankland said the League is still following its mission and is happy that citizens come to its candidates forums and read their voter guides.

Calef said the group began celebrating by marching in August in the Los Alamos Fair & Rodeo and listen upcoming events to celebrate the two anniversaries.

The proclamation reads as follows:

“WHEREAS:  The 19^th Amendment to the United States Constitution, recognizing women’s right to vote, was ratified in 1920; and

WHEREAS: The League of Women Voters of the United States was founded on February 14, 1920, for the purpose of educating newly enfranchised women about political issues; and

WHEREAS: The League of Women Voters of Los Alamos was founded in 1947; and

WHEREAS: The League has contributed to the welfare of Los Alamos by

•             Advocating for a city manager/town council form of government (1947-48)

•             Advocating for a hospital board composed of citizens, medical personnel, and          administration (1948)

•             Advocating for an elected School Board and appointed Superintendent (1950)

•             Advocating for at-large election of County Commissioners (1959-60)

•             Advocating for County ownership of utilities (1962-1964)

•              Founding the Los Alamos Farmers Market (1970); and

WHEREAS: The League has held forums on civic issues such as housing, recreation, land use and the County Charter; and

WHEREAS: The League leads voter registration drives and provides non-partisan Candidate Forums and Voter Guides for elections;

NOW, THEREFORE, on behalf of the Council of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos, I do hereby congratulate the League of Women Voters of Los Alamos on its 73^rd anniversary and commemorate the 100^th Anniversary of the founding of the League of Women Voters of the United States and women’s right to vote.

For more information on the League’s upcoming activities,  see https://losalamosreporter.com/2020/01/29/celebrate-league-of-women-voters-100th-anniversary-feb-6-at-the-state-capitol/