For the March 7 Santa Fe municipal election, SFR called up candidates in the mayor's race to test their knowledge. The rules for Pop Quiz are as follows: No research allowed and if they call back later with the right answer, too bad. To see who answered correctly (or came closest), check out our answer key below.
Questions:
1. What is the "Los Amigos del Alcalde Desayuno Club" and why is it controversial?
2. What is the official full name of the City of Santa Fe, which can be found on the city seal?
3. What are the city's stated priorities in the master planning of the Northwest Quadrant?
4. On what crucial city issue during the past year did Mayor Larry Delgado attempt to abstain from making the tie-breaking vote when the City Council was deadlocked at 4-4?
5. What do you think your greatest weakness (or biggest challenge) as mayor would be?
6. What will your victory song be if you win the election?
Answers:
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David Coss, 51, is a natural resources manager and city councilor representing District 3.
1. The "Los Amigos Del Alcalde Desayuno Club" is a group of, well people don't know all of the members of the group, but it's people that pay money to have breakfast with the mayor, usually business people. It's controversial because they have helped fund the mayor's trips and the mayor's family members' trips and the controversy is if that is a violation of the city ethics ordinance or not.
2. The official full name is Villa Real de San Francisco de Asís de Santa Fé.
3. The stated priorities are affordable housing and…um…that's the only one I know of.
4. The Super Wal-Mart.
5. My biggest challenge would be holding together a wonderfully diverse community with a lot of strong opinions.
6. What was that Fleetwood Mac song? [Laughs] No, how about…I don't know; gosh, I'm going to have to think about that one. I haven't picked out a victory song yet…It would probably be something by Bob Marley. I can't remember the name of it, "Everything's Going to Be All Right?" [Ed. note: "Three Little Birds."]
Answers:
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Donado "Cove" Coviello, 62, is an artist.
1. Well, it's a slush fund to help the mayor go on junkets as excuses for buying influence. It's a club of donators that have set up a fund to help the mayor.
2. Uh…let's see, the city of holy faith, uh, St. Francis is there, de Santa Fe. I'm not sure.
3. I think it's designated to be used as affordable communist housing.
4. You know, that number is astronomical. Larry Delgado, who I call Larry "Del Jell-O" created the 4-4 tie mechanism and was asleep for eight years. So I cannot name the amount of times he shirked his responsibility. I know he sold out on Wal-Mart, the fix was in on that, if that's what you're talking about.
5. Absolutely, no question, the problem of immigrants. The challenge would be to have a welcoming, open heart at the same time as making it equitable for the people who are already here.
6. Let's see. You know, it would probably be the song that I haven't quite got to perform during this campaign all the way yet and that would be "Ripple" by the Grateful Dead, especially the part where "you who choose to lead must follow."
David Schutz
Was contacted by SFR and declined to participate.
Answers:
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Karen Walker, 66, is a real estate broker.
1. It shouldn't be controversial. It's the group that was formed to provide some funds to whomever the mayor is to entertain visiting dignitaries and that sort of thing because the city historically has not provided any money to do it. Of course if someone is visiting from Spain or something they do expect that the local mayor will take them out to dinner. It's a group that tries to help provide funds for that function, which I think it is very important for the mayor to be able to entertain people from other cities, counties, states and countries.
2. La Villa de Real de Santa Fé de San Francisco de Asís.
3. One of the priorities that they've stated is for affordable housing but I feel that they need to consider leasing the land if they want to get the full measure of 30 percent affordable housing.
4. I don't know. I don't remember.
5. Well, I guess I don't think in those terms. I don't focus on weaknesses. In terms of a challenge, I think it is to get the city on stable footing for a sustainable and reliable water supply.
6. [Sings] It's just the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities…because I'd like to get back to the job description of the city. You know that song? It's from
The Jungle Book
.
SFR Key
1. Non-profit organization whose members hold periodic breakfast meetings with the mayor and have provided funds to Larry Delgado for gala events and diplomatic trips. Questions have arisen over whether the organization and its donations overextend the boundaries of political patronage and city ethics law.
2. La Villa Real de la Santa Fé de San Francisco de Asís.
3. To ensure the city's affordability goals for the development are met; that guidelines are provided for an exemplary mixed-income neighborhood that demonstrates excellence in urban design, water conservation, open space preservation and "green-building" techniques; to ensure that future development harmonizes with existing, adjacent residential communities.
4. Mayor Larry Delgado was the tie-breaking vote on the marathon session that ended at 4:30 am, Aug. 16, over the fate of a Super Wal-Mart. Delgado's vote approved the superstore.
