Editor,

We voted for two candidates who stand out in this election. One is Melanie Colgan for LAPS School Board and the other is David Hanson for UNM-LA Advisory Board. We are impressed by Melanie’s focus on the urgent issues facing the school board…keeping the students safe and in school during a pandemic, knowing the qualifications for hiring a new superintendent, supporting our diverse student and staff, and validating teachers who are educating children with the traditional rigorous academic curriculum Los Alamos has done forever. As a professor of nursing, Melanie understands that the district/state COVID-19 policies are determined by evidence-based science. She supports vaccines and the wearing of masks, and does not say she will just follow the state mandate as does her opponent.  

Melanie is a person who supports all students and all staff. She believes that the district should strive to meet every student’s unique learning, social, and emotional needs.(see Maslow’s Hierarchy of Student Needs). Melanie is committed to helping our children thrive and celebrates the diversity that will continue making our school district a place where all are welcome and accepted.

We also voted for David Hanson for Position 5 in the UNM-LA election. Why? We support people who embrace science and common sense.  Karyl Ann first met David and his late wife Carol when she taught their son, a student who was a musical savant for two years at Los Alamos Middle School, 16 years ago. David and Matt have kept in touch with her all these years.  We know David to be honest, capable, and knowledgeable of the duties the Advisory Board performs at UNM-LA. He took the time to speak for 90 minutes with Dr. Cynthia Rooney as well as confer with two UNM-LA Board members to assess his ability to perform the job. UNM requires COVID vaccinations and masks for all staff/students  David supports that because of the science behind the decision not just because it is mandated. He is not using this as a possible stepping stone to win another election. Indeed he has never run for any other office. He is a dedicated individual who only wants to serve in this position. His time is not taken up with other obligations. As a retired physicist he certainly has the math skills necessary for the job of approving the budget.

Both candidates support the mill levy to continue the maintenance on our buildings and providing essentials for students.

VOTE Mon – Sat  8-6 WR Town Hall or Muni Bldg. Check with the County Clerk for Nov. 2 where there will be multiple locations to vote.

Karyl Ann Armbruster
Former District 4 NM Public Education Commissioner/LAMS teacher

Kenneth Armbruster