Pilar Hopes to Make it Far

A city Planning Commission member and community advocate since 1999 is ready to race.

Pilar Faulkner, an Ojo Caliente native and resident of Santa Fe for 33 years, has her eyes set on a City Council spot representing District 3.

Faulkner tells SFR she chose to live on the city’s Southside for its diversity, wanting her children to grow up “in a place that represented the world and represented community as what community should be.” A graduate of the College of Santa Fe, she’s currently pursuing a master’s degree through Colorado State University’s Global Campus program. If elected, she says she plans to work on affordable housing, land use, water conservation and other issues to help preserve that community.

“District 3 is worth fighting for, and I’m going to devote every amount of resources I can to make that happen,” Faulkner says.

District 3 makes up the majority of the Southside, including neighborhoods west of Cerrillos Road and Lopez Lane, as well as south of Agua Fría Street and Tierra Contenta. See a map of the City Council districts here.

Prior to her new candidacy, Faulkner raised funds for the Southside Library, the Teen Center, the Boys and Girls Club and other community projects. As a member of the appointed city Planning Commission since 2017, she’s voted on key development projects. Faulkner established her bizAcumen Advisory Group firm in 2002, specializing in government liaison services. She says that experience gives her a good understanding of the issues at hand and how to address them.

“I have learned how the system works and I’ve learned how to have relationships with people so that you can come to resolutions,” she says. “When you negotiate in politics, it’s high risk, high conflict, and I have learned how to be a high-risk, high-conflict negotiator.”

She hopes to curtail “party and personality driven politics” in her first try for office, she says, promising to focus on the issues.

“It seems to me our politics are so divided in the city right now that we need people who know how to bring people together rather than continuing to be obstructionist or to be divisive because we are looking at political party or personality differences,” Faulkner says.

The city’s four districts each elect two councilors to four-year terms in the nonpartisan races, with one seat in each district up for election every two years. Current District 3 Councilor Chris Rivera is not seeking re-election in November. Former city police officer Louis Carlos, Eric Morelli and co-director of Earth Care Miguel Acosta join Faulkner in the battle for the spot.

All three of Faulkner’s opponents are seeking public funding. Those candidates have until July 24 to collect nominating petitions and 150 contributions of $5 from voters registered in the district in order to qualify.

Candidates like Faulkner who plan to conduct private fundraising have until Aug. 29 to declare and present nominating petitions.

To make a qualifying contribution or sign a petition, go here.