BY DAVID IZRAELEVITZ
Democrat
Candidate for Los Alamos County Sheriff

My service as a Los Alamos County Councilor, from 2011 to 2022, was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. This public service journey began with the Library Board, continued through the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Charter Review Committee, and I now hope to conclude it as your Sheriff.

However, a core part of my campaign is the belief, based on my experience and what I’ve learned, that the Sheriff position in Los Alamos County is unnecessary. Thus, my goal is paradoxical: I want to be your Sheriff so that I can ultimately terminate the position. Let me explain.

Because Los Alamos functions as both a County and a City, our founders demonstrated foresight in eliminating redundant roles. For example, the County Treasurer’s duties are managed by the Finance Manager, preventing the need for two separate positions. A similar consolidation was possible for the Sheriff and Police Chief roles. Yet, for historical reasons, only the law enforcement duties were delegated to the Police Chief. The Sheriff retains other responsibilities that require the position to exist for bureaucratic reasons, even if the workload is minimal—a few hours a month, if that.

My wife, Terry, and I have called Los Alamos home for nearly 30 years. We worked here—I as an engineer at LANL and Terry as a school occupational therapist—raised our three sons, and are now enjoying retirement. We feel blessed to be part of this wonderful community and, in our own ways, have always strived to give back to Los Alamos.

As the campaign progresses, I will be sharing more detailed information about the Sheriff position. I am currently engaged in discussions with staff regarding the operational and legal implications, and plan to share a more comprehensive vision with the community in the coming weeks and months.

For now, I wanted to let you know the reasons behind my run and what I hope to achieve. I welcome your feedback and ideas. You can reach me by phone at 505-412-9470 or find me around town. I hope to earn your confidence and your vote.