Club Hosts Freedom Tea, Announces Essay Contest Winners
On April 25, members, friends and guests of the Los Alamos Federated Republican Women (LAFRW) filled Fuller Lodge for a Freedom Tea, which celebrated the 250th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Attendees enjoyed tea, a variety of snacks and desserts, and competing in a silent auction. President Linda Bullock officiated the event, and after the prayer and pledge, Ramona Goolsby presented the keynote address.
Goolsby is the Republican candidate for New Mexico Secretary of State, the office that oversees the state’s elections, campaign finance reporting, and government transparency functions. She is a Rio Rancho resident and newly seated member of the Ciudad Soil and Water Conservation District Board. As a retired nurse practitioner and veteran, she draws on a background of healthcare, agriculture, civic advocacy and local government. Goolsby stated that her priorities are to protect election integrity, enforce election finance statutes, and bring real transparency to New Mexico’s government.
Holly Wilson spoke for Jason Chappell who is running for the Los Alamos County Council. Chappell is a veteran who served in Germany and Iraq during the early stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is the Assistant Store Leader at Smith’s Marketplace and serves on the local Transportation Board, the Library Board and as Vice Chair of the Los Alamos Schools Credit Union Baord. Chappell is running for County Council because he wants to spend money only where it directly serves residents; give the community a voice at the beginning of issues, not after decisions are made; and remove impediments to small business success.
Eric Stromberg, also a candidate for the County Council, is a 13-year resident. Stromberg has served on the Board of Public Utilities for six years. He expressed his concerns that the County Council only hears from a small part of the community. Busy residents lack time to follow all county activities, and information relevant to the community can be difficult to find on the County website. Many residents have felt inadequately informed or considered in Council decisions. He stressed that he approaches issues with holistic, logical and critical thinking. If elected to the County Council, his goals are to oppose initiatives in which the Council tries to dictate how people live; question mandates that serve only a small part of the community; support small businesses and be accessible to the community.
The student winners and essays can be found in the article link below.
President Bullock concluded the event with information about the steady growth of the award-winning Los Alamos chapter, a member of the NMFRW and the National Federated Republican Women, founded in 1938. The local chapter started in 1954 and has won two national awards and five state awards for substantial volunteer campaign hours, and training and educating members.
Upcoming events for the chapter are recognition of the Los Alamos Police Department during National Police Week on May 15, the New Mexico Judges Project and a presentation by American Prosperity project leaders later this year.