BY DAVID HAMPTON
Candidate for
Los Alamos County Council
As a current member of 4 Los Alamos County Boards and Commissions, and having served on 2 others, I’d like to make the case for why you should serve and the profound impact you can have on our community. These same things apply to serving on the UNM-LA Advisory Board, Co-op Boards, and our various non-profit boards.
Generally speaking, learning how our County’s government works and getting to know our staff and Councilors is rewarding in itself. For example, understanding that most of the ordinances that are brought forward by County Staff to County Council throughout the year are in accordance with direction given by Council to Staff at the annual Strategic Leadership Planning session in October or November.
Specifically, here are some of the things I’ve helped accomplish over my past 7 years of board service.
Parks and Recreation Board. Tabled endorsing the documents governing permitting, fees, and use, for the stables and arena until various issues could be worked out. Encouraging staff to meet with stables licensees and stakeholders to elaborate on why certain things had to be done or not done. Banning County use of glyphosate. Facilitating discussions between the Los Alamos Golf Association and the Pajarito Conservation Alliance to come up with a 5th option for reconfiguring the golf course that they both supported. Breaking a 3-3 tie in Council on the Integrated Community Services Master Plan by testifying that we needed the Plan for grants and that details would be added in other plans. All passed by Council.
Board of Registration. Certified elections so that the results could be accepted. Maintained the voter list in accordance with state and federal laws to remove people who had moved or passed away.
Planning and Zoning. Approved numerous site plans for new developments throughout the County in accordance with our Development Code, and granted almost all requested variances when denying the variances would have served no public good.
Personnel. Chaired the hearing which upheld an employee appeal of a County personnel action.
Transportation. Revised the Snow and Ice Removal Plan to raise the stables to a higher priority. Held public hearings, advised, and endorsed recommendations on numerous County Public Works projects, including Trinity Drive, Hwy 4, Denver Steels, and the Pedestrian Master Plan. All passed by Council.
Environmental Sustainability Board. Held public hearings, advised, and endorsed recommendations on numerous County Sustainability projects, including the EV Charging and Fleet Conversion Plan in accordance with the County Climate Action Plan. Formed a work group at Council direction to propose a plastic bag ban, held the public hearing, then recommended 6-0 against adoption because of significant public opposition and other considerations. Council upheld this recommendation and approved all ESB recommendations on other plans.
This is only a partial list of the impacts that I and others have been able to have in County government through board service, and I hope it will serve as an encouragement for you to serve also. Yes, occasionally you will lose, sometimes after much work, but my experience has been overwhelmingly positive and impactful.