Debating the choices for mayor

Citizens of Santa Fe — be satisfied, at least right now, with the intelligent campaign being conducted in the 2018 race for mayor. The five candidates are attacking the issues, not each other, and generally, presenting detailed policy positions and focusing on their own positives, not everyone else’s negatives. And, yes, you can thank ranked-choice voting, at least in part.

With ranked-choice voting, the candidates cannot afford to alienate supporters of the other candidates. If, say, Alan Webber knows that a solid chunk of voters want Ron Trujillo for mayor, it does Webber little good to call Trujillo names; that holds true for Kate Noble or Joseph Maestas or Peter Ives, all of whom cannot afford to anger voters who might favor another candidate.

All five candidates want to be first choice with as many voters as possible, but if that isn’t going to happen, then they want voters to rank them second. With five people in the race, it is unlikely that the top vote-getter will go over 50 percent in the first round of voting. Second- and third-ranked choices likely will determine the next mayor. Thus, a less combative atmosphere than usual despite the hard-fought campaign.

The politics of ranked-choice voting was on full display at the mayoral forum three days ago at the Lensic — before a full house of 800-plus, yet another indication that voters are paying attention. As they should, because it is at the local level that voters can talk one-on-one with candidates, bring up issues closest to their hearts and otherwise make a difference in the policy directions the city takes.

Last Thursday, candidates were ganging up — pleasantly, since no one wants to be mean — on Webber, thought to be one of the front-runners in the race. Moderators offered candidates the opportunity to ask each other questions — three of four went to Webber. Later, when candidates were asked to give their second choice for mayor, none chose Webber. He’s viewed as a threat, obviously.

Questions at this forum — and all of them, really — have been wide-ranging. Moderators Milan Simonich of The New Mexican and Richard Eeds of KSFR radio kept the candidates on their toes. Candidates are discussing better ways to run bus routes, modernizing City Hall, restructuring government, making the city more customer-friendly and other issues great or small. Concerns over financial planning, prioritizing city finances, public safety and other contentious issues were fleshed out. The candidates understand the issues and have thought seriously about challenges facing the city. So how to choose?

The biggest challenge for voters will be deciding which of the five capable people running for mayor can best run the city. With the new strong-mayor position set to start in March, the next mayor will have more power (not to mention a sixfigure salary). He or she will help direct the city bureaucracy, taking additional responsibility for the budget and for certain appointments. Citizens are hiring a manager as much as a mayor, and they should keep that in mind while deciding.

For people who have not attended forums, they can be viewed online at santafenewmexican.com. And more are on the way. On Wednesday, for example, there’s one from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Eldorado Hotel, focusing on issues of interest to the hospitality industry. Once more, there will be plenty of opportunities to find out more about the people who believe they have what it takes to serve as mayor.

Whoever is elected to fill the job as Santa Fe’s first strong mayor will break new ground. The choice is important, because the job will take on the personality of the person who takes it. The winner will define what a strong mayor is.

Voters, as you watch forums and visit with candidates, imagine them as bosses. They will be leaders — setting a vision and course for a city — but also managers. It’s a balancing act, to be sure, one that voters must sort through as they rank their choices.