City Councilor Matt Ortiz talks turkey.
SFR: How was your Thanksgiving?
MO:
My Thanksgiving was great. My brother and sister and her family were in town so it was a Thanksgiving filled with turkey and little girls running and playing.
Was the mayor there?
The mayor was not there.
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What do you call the mayor outside of the City Council chambers?
Uncle Larry.
What was he like when you were growing up?
My uncle was great. He was the uncle the kids liked to be around. He was a coach so he had a natural affinity for children, and he was a fun-loving guy. He and my Aunt Angie were always very loving and very supportive of all of us.
Speaking of the City Council, I think most people would agree you're one of the more articulate members of the City Council-
That's not saying much.
[Laughs] Sometimes during meetings you almost look frustrated. I've seen you chew out staff a couple of times for not doing what Council had asked them to do. Is there any truth to that?
There have been times I've been frustrated, and there have been times I've been frustrated with staff. Serving for six years, you see the highs and the lows…and I think I've had my share of both highs and lows on Council.
What's the most frustrating part about being on Council?
Listening to the rhetorical statements or questions by my colleagues when the comments or question are not germane to the issues at hand.
Do you have a good working relationship with your colleagues?
I would say so. On the issues that have been important to myself and my constituents, I would say I have been able to work with any and/or all of the city councilors.
Let's talk about Wal-Mart. During that long meeting, after sitting silent there for a while, you broke into this impassioned speech on how bad the company was, you didn't like them…but then you voted for the project, your logic being your constituents were for it. But you knew deep in your heart, at least it seemed you did, this wasn't good for the city. I still don't understand your vote.
In the weeks leading up to the Wal-Mart vote, I was being called-not the sort of random calls we usually get on issues like this-but by specific constituents I knew, who were saying they wanted this for various reasons. They wanted competition for food, for cheaper gas; they wanted to have an ability to shop at a place where the prices were reasonable. I got calls from people on a fixed income who told me, 'This will allow us to continue to live in Santa Fe.' These were my supporters, and sometimes you cannot put your personal opinion behind your votes. You have to vote where you think your constituents are. It was a very tough vote for me.
What do you think about the mayor's race right now?
[Chuckles] It's a very crowded, convoluted gang that wants to run for mayor.
Did you want Javier [Gonzales] to stay in the race?
I think Javier would have been a very strong, viable and probably successful candidate if he had remained in the race. I get along well with Javier, and I know I would have worked well with him had he run. And I know Councilor [David] Coss, and I think he and I would work well together if he is mayor. And I know some of the other candidates, and I don't know how they would do as mayor, and I don't know how I would work with them if they were elected.
Are you considering throwing your hat into the ring?
No.
Over the past year or two there have been a lot of local public officials who've been in the news because of personal issues. How have you been able to deal with the public knowing that you had meningitis, you suffered from depression...
I'm still going to counseling. I'm dealing with the private issues in the most responsible way that I can, and while I wouldn't wish the problems I had on anyone I certainly know that I'm a better person now because of what I had to go through, and I am not looking back. I'm looking forward.
So it didn't bother you that this was in the pub-
No, it completely bothered me, and it shook me to my core, and it caused me and my family and my friends a lot of grief and it was a painful process to go through. It took me through a process I wouldn't want anyone to go through but now that I went through it I'm glad. It taught me to be a much more conscientious, much more humble person.
