BY MICHAEL R. ALTHERR. Ph.D.
Los Alamos

If you have not yet voted and plan to vote in person in the Democratic Primary for County Council, let me offer something to think about. I have had the opportunity to work directly with two of the candidates for the Democratic nomination for Council. Both Melanee Hand and David Hampton are the kind of individuals that I want working for me on the Council. They are true public servants.

Melanee and I served together on the Los Alamos Mountaineers Board. More recently, Melanee was the Council liaison to the Transportation Board where I served for four years. From that position, I saw how hard Melanee worked for our community. She was always prepared for the meetings of the Transportation Board. In addition to her regular duties with the Council, she also served as liaison to the Regional Transportation Authority which was unique among the Council liaisons who worked with the T-Board during my tenure. I found this extremely valuable in coordinating our local efforts with upgrading New Mexico transportation objectives writ large. Melanee takes her duties on the Council seriously and will continue to serve us well.

I would also like you to seriously consider voting for Dave Hampton. I worked with Dave on the Transportation Board for 2 years. Dave took the gravel and chaired the T-Board shortly after joining. He has also worked on Planning and Zoning. He is also an elected member of the UNM-LA Advisory Board. I am sure that there are other positions that Dave has held in the various County Boards and Committees. These are exactly the credentials we should want in all of our Councilors and Dave has already served the community well in his various positions, and will most certainly serve us all as a member of the Council. 

I hope that you will consider casting your vote for these two exemplary public servants to help us ensure the Council is composed of serious people working hard in all of our interest.