Santa Fe City Council Endorsements - March 6 election

The Northern New Mexico Group of the Sierra Club is endorsing these candidates for Santa Fe City Council in the March 6, 2012 election:

• District 1 : Patti Bushee WON
• District 2 : Peter Ives WON
• District 3 : Christopher Rivera WON
• District 4 : Carol Robertson Lopez LOST

District 1 : Patti Bushee

The Northern New Mexico Group drew from Bushee’s long and impressive environmental record on the City Council in making its decision.

Councilor Bushee was an original champion of the Santa Fe River Park & Trail System. She sponsored the Santa Fe River Trail Master Plan and helped establish the Santa Fe River Commission.

She advocated changes to the land-use code to require bike lanes when constructing or paving new roads, and she sponsored code changes to require commercial establishments to provide bike racks. As chair of the Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee, she introduced many initiatives supporting safe bicycle commuting, including the 5-foot-to-pass law.

“Among her many accomplishments in protecting Santa Fe’s resources, Councilor Bushee advocated for solar energy on many city-owned facilities and the hiring of an energy specialist to reduce our governmental carbon footprint; that specialist has saved a considerable amount of money for the city and its residents through energy efficiency,” Van Winkle said.

Bushee has proven her commitment to protecting Santa Feans’ air, water and health, and the Northern New Mexico Group will devote its energies to returning her to office.

District 2 : Peter Ives

Ives has worked as in-house counsel for the Trust for Public Land for 14 years and demonstrates a commitment to increasing awareness of sustainability in Santa Fe and protecting its water sources, as well as cooperation with the county to benefit trails and recreation opportunities.

“Peter’s ideas and responses show thoughtfulness about Santa Fe’s future and the most productive ways to reduce traffic congestion, increase clean energy and create an economically robust, resilient city,” said David Van Winkle, chair of the Northern Group of the Sierra Club’s Rio Grande Chapter.

District 3 : Christopher Rivera

Rivera displays a strong knowledge of water issues and a concern for long-term planning to keep resources plentiful for future generations of Santa Feans.

“The Northern New Mexico Group found Christopher to be enthusiastic about finding innovative ways to move Santa Fe beyond a dependence on dirty energy,” said David Van Winkle, chair of the Northern Group of the Sierra Club’s Rio Grande Chapter. “His roots in Northern New Mexico give him an understanding of the issues in this area, as well as a devotion to seeing Santa Fe keep its unique character and natural beauty.”

District 4 : Carol Robertson Lopez

As a former longtime city councilor, Robertson Lopez supported conservation measures that included the toilet-retrofit program and creation of a water budget. She wrote and sponsored the ordinance creating the Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee and worked with Dale Ball on creating the trail system that bears his name. Robertson Lopez also supported measures for watershed protection, well-head protection and river restoration.

“Responsible management of water is one of the key conservation issues in Northern New Mexico, and Carol has superb knowledge of water issues and the strongest record of advocating smart water-conservation strategies in the District 4 race,” said David Van Winkle, chair of the Northern Group of the Sierra Club’s Rio Grande Chapter.

“In fact, the conservation measures Carol supported as a city councilor have led to Santa Fe’s impressive current numbers on water use: Santa Fe residents use far less water per person than in most cities around New Mexico and the Southwest,” said Van Winkle.

Carol Robertson Lopez has proven her commitment to protecting Santa Feans’ air, water and health, and the Northern New Mexico Group will devote its energies to returning her to the City Council.

Early-Voting Information

Voters may visit the City Clerk's Office on the second floor of City Hall, 200 Lincoln Ave., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., or call 955-6519 to ask for an absentee ballot request form in the mail. (Mailed ballots must be returned to the clerk by 7 p.m. March 6.)