MEET THE CANDIDATES
This is the first in a three-part series in the Sunday Opinion section featuring the 2021 candidates for mayor of the city of Santa Fe. Today, they introduce themselves. On Sept. 26 and Oct. 3, candidates will answer questions about the issues. Election d
Vigil Coppler: ‘I’m from the same place you are’
Teasing to others that I was born in the Drury Plaza Hotel (once St. Vincent hospital) brings laughter. Raised in a single-parent household with a family of five kids and almost no money, I mostly wore handme-down clothes, scrambled for lunch money and wondered if my family would make ends meet. I knew if I was to go to college after graduating from Santa Fe High, I would have to pay my own way. I worked summer jobs, secured student loans and worked the whole time I was in college to pay for my bachelor’s and master’s degrees. My parents taught me the ethics of hard work and earning an honest living.
I retired as the court director/ clerk of the court for the First Judicial District Court. Other public service included deputy director at the New Mexico Supreme Court, human resources director for the city of Santa Fe, Los Alamos County and the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. I have been on transition teams of two distinguished governors and am vice chair of the board at the State Employees Credit Union. I am past chair of the Labor Management Relations Board for Northern New Mexico College.
I’m running to be your next mayor because I have the successful, proven track record in public service to make a notable difference. I can empathize with families who struggle to live and work in Santa Fe and who wonder where their next meal will come from and whether they will have a roof over their head when the bills come due. I care about education in our schools because I am a product of this city’s public school system.
I envision a Santa Fe where taxpayer money isn’t wasted and we devote it to clean parks for our children, maintained buildings and streets, where all sections of this city are beautiful and worthy. I have and always will value taxpayer money as if it were coming out of my own checking account. I believe in quality control, efficiencies and effectiveness. I will preserve and respect our traditions, culture and will be inclusive of all residents. I will be a mayor who knows how to get things accomplished through well-experienced and valued employees. I didn’t move here from somewhere else and I am not moving anywhere after this. I’ve raised my firefighter son here. I’m from the same place you are.
Martinez Johnson: ‘I advocate for all voices’
Iam running primarily because I am qualified. In contrast to past mayoral candidates, I have a degree in environmental engineering and a background in project management and economic analysis. I not only follow science, but I know how to implement it. I also represent the voice of many Gen Xers and millennials who want governance not rooted in nepotism or cronyism. I represent hard work, education and the celebration of cultures.
The worldview, cultural diversity and history of New Mexico do not need to be explained to me because I have the experience of growing up and raising my children in New Mexico where respect for others is paramount, and the only means by which we can move forward here in Santa Fe.
I am running for mayor to ensure Santa Fe “sparkles” again and to provide a cultural healing as well as a movement forward to an economically sound, vibrant and welcoming community to one another. My skills as an environmental engineering professional coincide with managing a city’s water resources, wastewater management and transportation engineering to increase the quality of life and create a safe environment. I am running because we can do better. Taxpayers deserve to know where their money is going and that the highest priority areas are addressed such as safety. Safety consists of three areas: safety in your health, finances and person.
My main priority would be to deliver our unresolved audit so we know where taxpayer money is going and to allocate financial resources to a priority city list to provide for the greatest benefit to the quality of life for all Santa Fe residents. I advocate for all voices to have a seat at the table and would govern with a democratic republic mindset where we take into account minority voices. I seek to be a servant leader and representative of the vast, diverse Santa Fe community. I am highly educated and wellversed in negotiating and promoting cultural diversity and respect.
My overarching principles are transparency, accountability, honesty and follow-through. I am about action and making sure there is not just talk but that there are accountable steps followed for a desired outcome. Absentee ballot applications can now be applied for online or by calling the New Mexico secretary of state. Muchas gracias in considering me in your vote rankings! Vote Alexis Martinez Johnson in position one or two.
Webber: ‘Keep Santa Fe on track to serve people’
In the last three years, I led Santa Fe through the COVID19 pandemic, ensuring we were one of the first cities in the state to reach turquoise status; provided $6 million in direct support to Santa Fe families to help meet basic needs; and prohibited evictions and water shut-offs affecting vulnerable families. We adopted a mask ordinance and practiced vaccine equity.
During this time, we filled over 4,000 potholes; issued permits for 2,500 new housing units, with more than 4,000 units in the pipeline; allocated $6 million into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund; funded the new Southside Teen Center and a public restroom downtown; pushed ahead on the conversion of city vehicles from gas to electric and the conversion of 9,000 streetlights to energy-efficient bulbs; and developed Built for Zero, a proven strategy to end homelessness.
My budget created the equivalent of a 4 percent raise for city employees, put $1 million into parks and another $1 million into recreation and funded the city’s first comprehensive growth management study. I launched the Mayors for a Guaranteed Income pilot project with Santa Fe Community College to get funds into the hands of hardworking student-parents.
There’s more to do. We must continue to put COVID-19 safety front and center, keeping our families safe and making sure everyone’s basic needs are met. I’ll fight for higher wages for all of Santa Fe’s workers while growing our city’s revenues. We’ll manage growth and water while making sure everyone has an affordable place to live and raise a family. Child care is a necessity so that people can work and make a living. It’s also expensive. In the next four years, we need to ensure every family that wants or needs child care can pay for it. And we’re going to eliminate childhood hunger in Santa Fe by expanding our farm-to-families food initiative. No one should go to bed hungry in our community.
We’ll keep Santa Fe on track to serve people from every walk of life: young families, elders, people of color, the LGBTQ community, students and more. As we move forward, I’ll support Santa Feans to come together in unity, embracing our differences and reconciling our past so we can celebrate our future. We can come together to realize our shared hopes for future generations.