The Line: Santa Fe Choses New Mayor In “Instant Runoff” Election
March 9, 2018 – Santa Fe voters chose Alan Webber as the new mayor and filled four seats in the City Council in the election held on Tuesday, March 6. It was the first time the city used ranked choice ballots since that process was approved ten years ago. When he is sworn in as mayor, Webber will also step into an office with more power and a higher salary. The salary has tripled from $29,000 to $110,000. And as mayor, Webber will have the sole authority to fire the city manager, city attorney, and city clerk. Gene Grant and the Line opinion panelists discuss the election process and its outcome.
Dan Foley, former House minority whip
Tom Garrity, The Garrity Group PR
Inez Russell Gomez, opinion page editor for the Santa Fe New Mexican
Sophie Martin, attorney
Further reading:
Mayor-elect Webber jumps into transition – by Tripp Stelnicki, The Santa Fe New Mexican
Webber elected mayor in first ranked choice voting – by T.S. Last, Edmundo Carrillo and Megan Bennett, Journal North