SF councilor not seeking re-election
Former county manager announces plan to pursue open position
SANTA FE — City Councilor Carmichael Dominguez announced Friday he will not be seeking a fourth term as a representative of District 3 on the city’s southside, nor will he run for mayor in 2018.
Meanwhile, former county manager Roman “Tiger” Abeyta declared he’ll be a candidate for the seat Dominguez is vacating.
Dominguez, who was first elected to the City Council in 2006 and spent the past six years as chairman of the Finance Committee, made the announcement in a letter to constituents that was also published on the opinion page of the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper. Explaining his decision not to run in 2018, he said he was “focusing on other priorities in my life at this time.”
Online court records show that he and Deborah Leyba-Dominguez divorced last month.
In announcing his decision, Dominguez thanks family and friends, his colleagues in city government, city employees and the constituents of District 3, and highlights some of what’s been accomplished during his tenure. He also says the biggest challenge the city is currently facing “is the growing division in Santa Fe.” It’s not just a socioeconomic division, he said, but also “harsh political discourse.”
“We must find a better way to work together and respect one another,” he wrote. “We must listen to diverse perspectives, and above all, we must try to understand each person’s respective ‘walk’ in life.”
Abeyta, who is currently chief professional officer with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Fe, said in a brief interview Friday that he’s not sure if he would have run if Dominguez had decided to seek re-election, “but him not running made the decision a lot easier.”
Abeyta, who served as county manager from 2006 to 2010 after a stint as assistant city manager but has never held an elected position, said in a letter to District 3 residents that his motivation to run is to make sure the district get what it deserves.
“We are the city district with the largest population of working families and children under 18 years of age but do not have the basic services that residents of the other districts in our city enjoy,” he wrote. “We pay our fair share of gross receipts tax but our streets and walkways are not always maintained, we do not have adequate park space for our children to play, and we do not have a recreation center. As your city councilor I will listen to you, and fight for us.”