2021 ENDORSEMENTS SFR recommends heads of the family for mayor and City Council BY JULIE ANN GRIMM e d i t o r @ s f r e p o r t e r. c o m
T
he runup to Santa Fe’s 2021 city election has left us feeling, in the words of the old theme song from The Addams Family, “all together ooky.” The mayor’s race has included name-calling from “Marxist” to “MAGA,” several rounds of complaints to the ethics board (none going anywhere), an anonymous campaign against incumbent Mayor Alan Webber and more public events than any single voter could possibly absorb. The political enmity in the mayor’s race reflects citywide division over key civic issues such as: how the city should have dealt with its historical monuments controversy; the housing affordability crisis; the stalled Midtown campus project; and even upkeep of parks and medians. While many of these concerns predate the most recent administration, the stakes for all have been heightened by nearly two years of a pandemic that delayed, upended and in some cases reversed progress.
12
OCTOBER 27-NOVEMBER 2, 2021
•
SFREPORTER.COM
We dispute the notion circulated by some that Santa Fe is worse now than it’s ever been. Yet, there’s not a candidate for mayor who makes us universally excited and hopeful. We’re also worried that the bitter taste from the last federal election cycle still has voters craving a palate cleanser. Pandemic and postTrump lethargy appears to be playing a role in turnout thus far, with slow early voting and thousands of voters choosing mail ballots over in-person polling. At presstime, 10% of the city’s 60,634 registered voters had either asked for a ballot or cast one. (Not registered? Sameday voter registration ends Oct. 30.) The three-way mayoral contest between Webber, JoAnne Vigil Coppler and Alexis Martinez Johnson appears on every city voter’s ballot, and each of the four geographical City Council districts has a seat up for grabs. Lack of enthusiasm by potential candidates also marks this year’s ballot. The most robust race comes for District 1 on the north side, with incumbent Councilor Signe Lindell facing three challengers. In District 2 on the east side, incumbent Councilor Carol Romero-Wirth is unopposed. On the Southside: in District 3, challenger Lee Garcia is hoping to unseat incumbent Councilor Roman “Tiger” Abeyta; and in District 4, two candidates are vying for an open seat Vigil Coppler is vacating in her push for the top job. For the two races in which there are more than two candidates, voters may also use ranked choice voting. If a candidate fails to secure 50%
plus one vote, ballots are subject to an instant runoff using the rankings. The election comes three and a half years into terms that began in 2018 thanks to a change in the timing of city elections when a state law moved them from spring to fall. The new fouryear terms to which officials are elected begin Jan. 1, 2022 and end Dec. 31, 2025. The mayor’s salary is $110,358; councilors are paid $39,106. We’ve watched all the forums, read all the surveys and spoken with the candidates before making these recommendations. Our choices reflect the belief that these are the folks best informed and suited to address Santa Fe’s infrastructure, government and civic needs as the city (hopefully) pivots to post-pandemic life. Circling back to that ooky, Addams Family vibe we mentioned up top, here’s a bit of hope or, inspiration, if you will from SFR: Whoever voters choose should also remember Thing. In the black and white TV show that debuted in 1964 and ran for just two seasons (and experienced a recent revival with animated movie spinoffs), Thing, a disembodied “helping hand” with a mind of his own, showed up when members of the Addams Family needed him most. Councilors and the mayor would do well to consider the character as the people elected officials represent. Listen to them. Let them help you help us all. We’ve said it before, because we just can’t resist Halloween puns during a fall election: Whatever you do, Santa Fe, the most scary thing would be to give away your voice. Please vote. Read more coverage at sfreporter.com/elections
