The moment of truth had finally arrived.
After months-in some cases an entire year-of campaigning, Santa Fe's candidates for city council learned their respective fates on the unusually balmy evening of March 7.***image6***
For some, the sweet surprise of victory sent family and friends into an ecstatic uproar. For others, the crush of defeat stunned supporters and fellow politicians alike.
In an effort to capture the adrenaline rush of election night, SFR stopped at City Hall and five different parties.
From the south-side of town and Ronald Trujillo's house party to the bustle of City Hall to the raucous party for David Coss at The Lodge, this was truly a night to remember.
7:17 pm, Ronald Trujillo's house, Siringo Rondo South.
It's standing room only inside the Trujillo's modest home, which is packed with dozens of family, friends and little Trujillos scampering back and forth through the chaos in the living room.
People mingle around the kitchen table, munching on croissant sandwiches, finger food and frito pie. Judy Espinosa, Trujillo's mother-in-law and campaign manager, stands in the kitchen wearing her "Elect Ronald Trujillo" shirt and soaking in the moment as the vote tallies trickle in.
"It's in God's hands at this point," Espinosa sighs. "We're very optimistic, but either way we know we gave it our all."
For the past few months, this house doubled as the Trujillo campaign headquarters during which time Trujillo and his ***image1***supporters visited some 11,000 homes by going door-to-door on nights and weekends.
"We didn't have a big fund," Espinosa says. "We didn't have parties at La Fonda. But this was about connecting to the people in District 4. The people needed to be spoken for and that's what Ronnie has done."
Trujillo sits in the eye of the stormy living room taking voter precinct totals over his cell phone and inputting them into a computer spreadsheet.
"Right now everything looks good," Trujillo says. "It's good having all these family and friends here. We're definitely feeling good."
Well, not everyone. Trujillo's lead slips from 83 to 32 votes, then eight before he's suddenly faced with a 23-vote deficit. The mood shifts quickly from elation to cautious optimism. Trujillo's wife, Amber Espinosa-Trujillo, shuttles around the house nervously joking "someone light a candle, light something."
"I'm so stressed right now," Espinosa-Trujillo admits. "We've worked so hard. Ronnie's worked so hard. We just really hope he wins."
7:49 pm, Louie Montano's election party, Tiny's Restaurant and Lounge.
An ashen-faced Jimmy Joe Gonzales stands in disbelief outside Tiny's. Word of Carmichael Dominguez's big win over Louis Montaño in the District 3 Council race has just reached the Montaño camp.
"It's over," Gonzales says forlornly. "It's all over."
Montaño, gracious and in good spirits, stands near Gonzales and concedes the race to Dominguez over the phone.
"You're going to be a great councilor," Montaño tells Dominguez.
Few of Montaño's supporters remain inside Tiny's. It's difficult to tell who is in the bar for dancing and drinks and who is there to support their man. The remaining supporters talk quietly over Coronas and absently watch a college basketball game on ESPN. The platters of chicken wings and taquitos sit idle. There seems to be a collective loss of appetite.
City Councilor Matthew Ortiz, not yet aware of the results, strides up to Montaño outside and shakes his hand. Gonzales gravely gives Ortiz the bad news.
"Mayor, you're very inspirational to all of us," Ortiz says. "You would have been a wonderful councilor."
Despite the setback, the former mayor and city councilor is gracious in defeat, heaping praise on his crestfallen campaign manager.
"Jim did a fabulous job," Montaño says. "Had he not talked to me, I wouldn't have run. He ran a beautiful campaign. Of course I'm disappointed in the outcome, but I don't regret this at all. I'm still a Santa Fean."
8:05 pm, Marilyn Bane's election party, Celebrations Restaurant and Wine Bar.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that there won't be a celebration tonight at Celebrations. Marilyn Bane pokes at a plate of food and chats amiably with friends near the restaurant's fireplace as supporters in the next room receive news that incumbent Rebecca Wurzburger is pulling away with the District 2 race.
"I'm stressed," Bane smiles warmly, "and when I'm stressed I either eat, drink or sleep, so I'm trying to eat as much as I can."
The polite crowd is comprised mostly of middle-aged and elderly women who sit at tables talking softly and sipping sangria. A few huddle around a television perched atop a stereo speaker, watching a live feed from City Hall, where Carmichael Dominguez talks about the long day he's had campaigning. Others stare at a large dry-erase board leaning in the corner of the main dining room. The board details the individual precinct tallies and, down by nearly 300 votes, it's become clear nothing short of an absentee ballot sweep will deliver victory for Bane.
"It's time for one of those great comebacks you see in a football game," one supporter offers weakly. "It's time for one of those Olympic moments."
8:25 pm, City Hall.
This is about as exciting as City Hall gets. City Clerk Tina Dominguez is reading off votes as they come in for a live television audience and the dozens of people-many hoisting signs supporting ***image2***Carmichael Dominguez (no relation)-on hand inside the city council chambers.
Scattered reports from the District 1 race have been filtering in all night. Some say that write-in candidate Sandra Aguilar is making a surge. Others have all but predicted Eric Lujan will emerge victorious. But as Tina Dominguez rattles off a series of landslide precinct victories by Chris Calvert, Lujan's face turns crimson as he strides out of City Hall.
The first runaway victor of the evening is Carmichael Dominguez, who stands in the back of the chambers in a white Adidas hat and yellow Santa Fe Fiesta Council jacket, accepting congratulations from supporters.
"I'm exhausted," Dominguez admits. "We've worked hard."
8:38 pm, Rebecca Wurzburger's election party, Eldorado Hotel and Spa.
At a dimly lit private room inside the Old House restaurant at the Eldorado Hotel and Spa, a calm Rebecca Wurzburger chats amiably with a group of her supporters while sipping a glass of wine. Though her race is not yet overt, Wurzburger, warm and friendly, seems confident she will emerge victorious.
"I know what I've done for the city," Wurzburger says. "This is a horse race. I'm happy it's finally over and I'm ready to move ahead."
Meanwhile, her friends and backers munch on tasty steak and chicken skewers and sushi rolls. Former County Commissioner Paul Duran, drink in hand, grins as he discusses races with attendees. Amelia Hollis-Romero, Wurzburger's campaign manager, beams.
"I felt that Rebecca has done a very good job for the district and the city," Hollis-Romero says. "I was pretty confident that she would win because we need her in City Hall, bottom line."
Not everyone is quite so bubbly. Another woman in attendance lashes out at local papers for failing to endorse Wurzburger. The newspapers, she says, are filled with transplants and that is why none endorsed her. When it's pointed out that Wurzburger herself is a transplant, the woman replies that the city councilor's 15 years in the city gives her diplomatic immunity.
9:13 pm, David Coss' election party, The Lodge (formerly the Radisson Hotel).
***image5***The scene at The Lodge is fitting of a near landslide mayoral victory. David Coss has just won. Crowds of supporters mill about in an upstairs ballroom, sipping bottles of beer and hugging each other as a mariachi band blares victory music over the din. The party features a slew of movers and shakers: Councilors Miguel Chavez, Karen Heldmeyer and Matthew Ortiz are all there as are local state representatives Peter Wirth and Ben Lujan and former mayor Debbie Jaramillo.
Local health care advocate and progressive Democratic leader, Charlotte Roybal rushes by in search of someone she knows.
"We finally got our council back!" she gushes.
Living Wage advocate Carol Oppenheimer, whose husband Morty Simon was Coss' campaign manager, is similarly elated with the outcome.
"We're so happy," Oppenheimer says. "This has been a fantastic effort. We've been watching the results all night and you can see how happy everyone is. Look how many people have been brought together by David Coss."
The man of the hour can barely move. Not because he's exhausted from the campaign but because he's flanked by supporters, hangers on and those who just want to meet the new mayor. Some try to hug him, others want their picture taken, others just want to talk.
Coss takes it all in stride and makes extra sure to let everyone get some face time.
"I feel great," Coss says, with a trumpet blaring in his ear. "I feel very positive about the community. We put together a good campaign."
Runner-up David Schutz has already put in his concession call to the mayor-elect.
"I enjoyed campaigning with him, he's got a lot of class," Coss says of Schutz. "He's got some great ideas and we're going to use some of them."
