Councilor Lindell shows what’s right at City Hall
Ihave been inside the creature. I emerged more passionate about good government than ever. During my nine years at the city of Santa Fe, I learned that like any living organism, City Hall depends on the healthy systems, the strong parts of the whole that keep things sane and functioning.
Good government is enhanced by real professionals. People who work hard, listen, think strategically and maintain civility through every heated debate. District 1 Councilor Signe Lindell does all of these things and never has faltered through the nearly three years I worked with her, including as a committee chairwoman. She was consistently prepared and embraced the work of engaging the community on thorny issues. She listened to all opinions and always treated every person with dignity and respect. Now more than ever, this civility is a critical foundation for our government that we must maintain and strengthen.
More than 50 distinguished community members, from business leaders to her City Council colleagues, agree with me and have expressed their support for Councilor Lindell seeking a second term. These include Councilor Renee Villareal, former Councilors Rosemary Romero, Chris Calvert, Bill Dimas and Frank Montaño, former Mayor David Coss, Santa Fe entrepreneur Alan Webber, Democratic Rep. Carl Trujillo, and business leaders Jenny Kimball, Buddy Roybal, Piper Kapin, Kate Kennedy and Vince Kadlubek. Answering why Councilor Lindell should seek another term, many noted her dedication to improving Santa Fe, that she works incredibly hard and always responds to questions from community members (even from other districts), plus her consistent, unflappable humanity. Many also appreciated her ability to balance respect for tradition and the need for innovation, updates and continuing improvement.
No issue is too big or too small for Councilor Lindell. She is a rare combination of someone who digs into details and thinks about the big picture for the city as a whole. Her willingness to stay up until two or three in the morning highlighting documents in preparation for a public meeting is incredibly valuable to Santa Fe. Her commitment to well-reasoned decision making processes ensures there is time allocated for community input and strong vetting of new policies. She has been an active, energetic learner about the nuances of policy, and seeks to understand the community history behind any issue she takes on.
In any professional pursuit, experience matters. Government is no exception. At the local level, our city government is a way to organize work to make our community better. We need public servants who understand the many dimensions of issues, will work hard to take them on, and have the heart and soul to make sure that none of our community members are forgotten or left behind. We need people with experience and the knowledge of how to get things done. After eight years on the Santa Fe Planning Commission, and a term on the City Council, Signe Lindell is one of the most knowledgeable people in our government.
Public service is hard. It takes an incredible endurance and a willingness to make personal sacrifices. It means making decisions and facing the anger of whomever is disappointed. It challenges us to maintain our humanity when nastiness and uncivil discourse creep in. I truly appreciate those who step up to serve and want to thank Councilor Lindell for her work. Please join me, and the growing list of community members, who recognize a job well done and the qualities that make an exceptional city councilor. We urge Councilor Lindell to seek a second term. Santa Fe will be better for four more years of her service. Let’s keep what is right with City Hall.