BY JAMES WERNICKE
Los Alamos

To the 4,276 Los Alamos voters who placed their confidence in me, thank you. Earning more than 47% of the vote as a third-party candidate is something I’m incredibly proud of. I’m grateful to everyone who supported my campaign, challenged my ideas, or simply took the time to learn about the issues.

I’d also like to congratulate Jeff Casalina on his victory. I’m sure he will be a fine County Assessor, and I encouragmy supporters to give him the same respect and opportunity to succeed that they would have given me.

As we move beyond this election, I hope we will also move beyond the division and hostility dominating our politics. That attitude may win elections, but it doesn’t build stronger communities. Regardless of party affiliation, most of us want the same basic things: affordable housing, accessible healthcare, reliable infrastructure, good schools, and economic opportunity. We may disagree about how to achieve those goals, but those disagreements should be where we start the conversation, not end it.

The photograph accompanying this letter shows me at Mesa Public Library holding a 1954 issue of The Atom, which included Los Alamos’s first Comprehensive Plan. Many of the challenges from 70 years ago persist today: housing shortages, traffic, land use, and accommodating a growing community. If all we do is vote every few years and then sit back until the next election, our successors will be debating the same problems 70 years from now. Democracy requires citizens who stay informed, participate in public decisions, and hold their elected representatives and government accountable for delivering on their promises, regardless of which party exercises authority.

If our electoral system forces you to choose between the lesser of two evils, then demand reform. Reforms such as nonpartisan ballots, approval voting, proportional representation, open ballot access, and independent campaign finance oversight would encourage more candidates to participate, allow ideas to compete on their merits, and let voters support their preferred candidate without fearing they’re throwing their vote away. If your elected representatives won’t change it, then run against them. I’ll support your campaign.

Although my campaign is over, my commitment to Los Alamos isn’t. I’ll continue analyzing public data, asking tough questions, and working toward a community where opportunity is accessible to everyone. Whether you voted for me, Jeff, or none of the above, thank you for being part of this community. Elections determine who exercises authority, but they don’t determine who belongs or whose voice deserves to be heard.