A neighbor’s take: Webber for mayor
Iran for mayor of Albuquerque because the real opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives is happening at the local level. Right now, more than ever, mayors matter. A recent book by Benjamin Barber, If Mayors Ruled the World, said it this way: “Cities are habitats for common life … to survive and flourish they must remain hospitable to pragmatism and problem solving, to cooperation and networking, to creativity and innovation.”
Every time we elect a mayor in New Mexico, we’re making a statement about what kind of future we want to have. We’re looking for someone who can combine that kind of pragmatism and creativity. We evaluate candidates on their managerial ability to get basic things done and their leadership skills to chart new ways forward for a better future.
That’s why I’m excited to endorse Alan Webber for mayor of Santa Fe. Alan fits that description, has that experience and offers that vision.
When I first met Alan, I quickly recognized a kindred spirit. We’re both focused on growing the economy and advancing progressive social values. We both know how to reach across artificial boundaries and connect with people, to bring people together from all walks of life, all backgrounds, races, gender, geography or political ideology.
We both have backgrounds in entrepreneurship and finance, so critical in these times when cities are being starved of federal and state funding sources. We’ve both managed complicated organizations, built high-performing teams and put together budgets. We both think about the individuals who are receiving the services we provide; in the end, we’re only as good as our ability to make things better for them. And we’re both optimists when it comes to scoping out what can be done through public office and pragmatic about what it takes to make it happen.
Albuquerque has long had a strong-mayor form of government, where the mayor has the authority and the responsibility to run city government. Now that Santa Fe has wisely adopted that same approach, it’s essential that the voters of Santa Fe also wisely elect the right candidate to be the city’s first strong mayor. I’m confident that Alan is that candidate. I say that not only because Alan is a friend, but also because I’ve depended on Alan for advice. He knows how to take new, creative ideas and put them into practice — and that’s a skill we need in every part of New Mexico as we get ready for a statewide turnaround.
This March, Santa Fe can take the next step in a series of elections across our state that are demonstrating the power of everyday people, working with neighbors block by block and standing up to the division and distraction coming out of Washington, D.C. Now is the time when we can all come together, reclaim the future of our local community, work together and ultimately, all do better together. Alan knows, as I know, that we all do better when we all do better. That’s the kind of person he is, and that’s the kind of mayor he’ll be. I hope you’ll take some friendly advice from a neighbor down in Albuquerque and vote for Alan Webber on March 6.
[Alan Webber] knows how to take new, creative ideas and put them into practice — and that’s a skill we need in every part of New Mexico as we get ready for a statewide turnaround.