Anson Stevens-bollen
Mayor Alan Webber says Santa Fe is moving in a better direction than the rest of the country.
In deep, blue New Mexico, local leaders are putting their best foot forward a week after former President Donald Trump won a second term in the White House, taking 312 electoral votes and winning the popular vote by more than 3 million.
Though Trump managed to capture the White House, he did not win New Mexico where Democratic candidates won down the ballot at the federal level.
Mayor Alan Webber tells SFR this was “a tale of two elections,” saying the city, county and state were “moving in the right direction.”
“I would say New Mexico seems to be moving forward and has a pretty good sense of direction. On the national level, I think it’s a completely different story,” Webber says. “The Trump victory was broad and deep. I think he tapped into a lot of anger and dissatisfaction and a sense of broad-based feeling by folks across the country that they weren’t being heard and the government policies weren’t working on their behalf…all of that factoring into people swinging toward Donald Trump’s platform.”
One example of that “good sense of direction,” Webber says, is that city residents overwhelmingly supported a $25 million municipal bond repaid by property taxes to improve roads. Indeed, 84% of 40,606 people voted in favor. The money will go toward more than 50 road-improvement projects across the city, and officials will set aside 10% for as-yet unidentified streets projects in smaller neighborhoods.
Following the green light from Santa Feans, Webber says the governing body will next have to pass another measure to authorize the bond issuance. On Nov. 12, Finance Director Emily Oster briefed the city Finance Committee on the next steps. A fiscal impact report on the bond estimates an annual $25 property tax increase for 20 years on homes with a market value of $500,000.
U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján, D-NM, released a statement Nov. 6 echoing some of Webber’s sentiments. The senator said while he was “disappointed” in the presidential election results, he would certify the election and “uphold the will of the people.”
“Donald Trump was president for four years and divided our nation while advancing efforts that hurt working Americans and undermined the rule of law. I pray that the next four years will be different for the good of the country,” Lujan said. “While the national landscape was challenging, New Mexicans showed up in strong numbers to reelect Senator Martin Heinrich and Representatives Teresa Leger Fernández, Melanie Stansbury, and Gabe Vasquez. We will continue working to deliver results for New Mexico regardless of who is in power in Congress and the White House.”
Republican Party of New Mexico Chair Steve Pearce, a former US House representative for the state, also released a statement Nov. 6 thanking Republican candidates for their efforts in “incredibly competitive races.” The party managed to pick up one seat in the House and another in the Senate. The outcome, Pearce said, signaled “a promising trend” as the GOP moves forward.
“What we witnessed was extraordinary: record turnout from Hispanics, women, young voters, minority groups and former Democrats for Republicans, both in New Mexico and across our nation,” Pearce said. “In traditionally blue states like New Mexico, we saw a shift toward our shared values, with nearly half of New Mexicans voting for President Trump. We congratulate President Donald J. Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance on their historic victory…We are optimistic that our great nation is returning to a path of prosperity, security, and safety for all hardworking families and the Republican Party of New Mexico will remain steadfast in advocating for common-sense policies that benefit our communities.”
All election results in New Mexico remain unofficial until all 33 counties finish their canvass process and the State Canvass Board convenes to certify the official results and order any recounts. The State Canvass Board will convene on Nov. 26.
