Questions and Answers | Local News

Education: High school / working on an associate degree in business

Family: As a native born and raised in District 4, my family history dates back to the 1960s. My grandparents ran the Estrada Hall and then opened the Scallion in the 1970s. I went to elementary school at Nava, intermediate at De Vargas and Capital High School. I grew up in a single parent family with my brother in District 4. After high school I went to work in the private sector and have now been working with the State of New Mexico for six years. I have the best support system with my family and friends.

Government / political experience: N / A

Community service activities: I am currently a CYFD Child Care Advocate for Rio Arriba, Los Alamos and Santa Fe counties. I am the voice of children who have no voice in the justice system.

1. Why do you run and what skills do you hope to bring, or continue to bring, to city council?

Reply: I am running for the City Council to be the voice of District 4. To bring the issues we face in District 4 to the Council for resolution. As a district in the south of the city that is easily forgotten, it needs resources to keep the district to thrive like other parts of the city. District 4 needs someone to fight back and be the voice of the voters to keep it going and make it a better neighborhood for our future. I have several years of budgetary and financial experience that will help me allocate and maintain a sufficient budget for years to come.

2. What do you think is the biggest problem Santa Fe faces and how do you plan to solve it?

Reply: The biggest problem we face as a city is that our municipal services are extremely understaffed in all departments. As a result of this, it was a problem to maintain the city and keep the city safe. For example, we don’t have enough city employees to maintain the rights-of-way to keep the view of traffic visible on our busiest streets. We don’t have enough cops to keep more than eight on a shift to keep the safety of our city a priority. As a member of City Council, I will be working with Services and Council to help recruit employees with the job requirements and experience to meet the needs of Santa Fe. The next issue we have is affordable housing and collaboration with the current council to build housing. Working with the current council to update and create a better affordable housing plan for our city will be a priority for me.

3. What is the biggest problem your district faces?

Reply: I believe the biggest problem we face in District 4 is the infrastructure and maintenance of streets and sidewalks for our residents. Maintenance of the three largest parks for children in District 4; the minimum number of affordable housing that cannot be found anywhere in District 4; and public safety is another. District 4 has a bit of everything, but it’s one of the biggest forgotten neighborhoods and needs to be maintained accordingly.

4. In 50 words or less, what is your take on a.) Alan Webber’s tenure as mayor, and b.) Current city council?

A.) During the current tenure of the incumbents, more municipal positions have been vacant, threatened to become vacant or filled by experienced staff, which has caused unrest in all departments of the city.

B.) This is the first administration that has shown complete disregard for the city of Santa Fe in all infrastructure needs. A majority of the current city council that is vying for re-election has failed to meet the needs of all districts, not just downtown.

5. How should the city approach the development of the Midtown Campus? What are your ideas for the site?

Reply: Work with the current council to help create non-government jobs to help generate income for the city. For example, help our local business owners have a business that thrives for them and for the city. Having local businesses on the Midtown campus would attract more tourists to the south of the city and that would be great.

Occupation: Director of Specialized Education

Education: Bachelor of General Education and Specialized Education, Masters in Educational Leadership

Family: I am the mother of two amazing children, a 5 year old girl and a 9 year old boy. I have a caring, caring and caring partner, Christopher Beaument. I come from a wonderful family; my mom, Tomasita, and my dad, Eliseo Chavez, are my biggest supporters and that’s why I’ve accomplished so much in my life. I have an older brother and sister who I am very close to.

Government / political experience: Santa Fe Planning Commission

Community service activities: I am a passionate advocate for the community. I was principal of a local elementary school where I worked to help the school make the transition to being a community school. This experience taught me the community approach and the recruitment of volunteer advocates. I learned how community organizing around something close to our hearts, like raising our children, can be a powerful advocacy tool. I have also seen with my own eyes how rich we are as a city when we come together.

1. Why do you run and what skills do you hope to bring, or continue to bring, to city council?

Reply: I want to help create a Santa Fe where our youth can thrive and working families can thrive. I have been a leader in education who emphasizes putting students and what they deserve at the center and the heart of everything I do and the decisions I make. I firmly believe that as a city councilor I can deliver an experience with a leadership philosophy that keeps the community at the center of every decision. I am committed to putting Santa Feans, their future, what they need this municipal government to be for them, at the center of everything I do.

2. What do you think is the biggest problem Santa Fe faces and how do you plan to solve it?

Recovery after COVID-19: I will work on city council to ensure that working families and small businesses are not left behind in helping and funding the recovery. I will work with City Hall to secure small business grants and ensure that businesses in District 4 have what they need to open safely. I will work for a government that is ready to welcome an open, business-ready Santa Fe economy. I will be a strong advocate for diversifying the Santa Fe economy and supporting job growth for young people so they can find opportunities and help Santa Fe thrive.

3. What is the biggest problem your district faces?

Affordable Housing: I plan to be a strong advocate for equity, accessibility and affordability-focused development and housing in all districts of Santa Fe City Council. As a City Councilor, I provide continued support and advocacy to fully invest in the Affordable Housing Fund. Affordable housing is one of my biggest concerns, in part because of its concentration in certain parts of the city.

4. In 50 words or less, what is your take on a.) Alan Webber’s tenure as mayor, and b.) Current city council?

Reply: The mayor responded effectively to protect our public health during an unprecedented global pandemic. The city council is filled with dedicated public servants who strive every day to represent their neighborhoods with distinction. Collaboration focused on the Santa Fe common ground between the mayor and city council needs to be significantly improved.

5. How should the city approach the development of the Midtown Campus? What are your ideas for the site?

Reply: Right now St. Elizabeth’s is located in Midtown, we have a resource in the center of our city, and I love it. I feel like we need to bring all of our municipal resources to the center of our city, including city hall. I believe the city and its supporting organizations should be located close to each other and at the center of the community it serves. Where city leaders can be among the people who serve our community, and where community members can have easy access to the people who serve them, including their leaders.