I want you to hear it from me first.

Dear Fellow Santa Feans and Friends,

Last Thursday I had the honor of presenting my State of City address. In it, I reflected on Santa Fe’s long and consistent journey toward justice, a journey that we must continue, particularly in light of the policies of this White House.

Today, I have a different kind of message, one that I want you to hear directly from me. After much thought and many heartfelt discussions with family and friends, I’ve made the decision not to run for a third term as Mayor.

It’s a hard decision for me because I love this city, and I love my job as Mayor. I love the team I get to work with and I love the issues we’ve worked on together.

Because of that work, our city is stronger, healthier, more resilient, and more just, than it was when I walked into the Mayor’s Office. I’m grateful to everyone who pitched in at every step of the way to help this city we all love.

The work has been purposeful and meaningful and we’ve made progress across the board. At the same time, cities are alive and constantly changing, so there’s always more work to be done.

Here are a few of the things I’ve been thinking about in reaching this decision.

First, when I announced my candidacy almost 10 years ago, we were permitting fewer than 200 new housing units each year. Our police officers were underpaid and there were too few of them. For years the Southside had been promised a Teen Center and nothing had happened. There were serious problems with the City’s finances and the McCard Report said that fraud was a distinct possibility. There wasn’t even a public bathroom downtown.

We went to work. In every one of those areas—and countless others—we made real, significant, and lasting progress

At the same time, two major challenges tested us. First COVID hit. We lost friends and family in the pandemic. Our tourism-based businesses were devastated, and with them our City budget. Then, in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd, a violent protest toppled the Soldier’s Monument. With the leadership of the whole City team, we came through COVID. My hope is that we’ll come through with a solution to the Soldier’s Monument that will heal our community’s divisions. When we come together, we always make it through together.

I could write pages and pages on what I’m most proud of from my two terms as Mayor, from putting $3 million each year into the Affordable Housing Trust Fund to the Built for Zero homelessness strategy, to our visionary program Mayors for a Guaranteed Income to our sustainable energy and clean water initiatives—and most importantly, to the new ranks of police officers, firefighters and EMTs who keep our city safe.

The best part of being Mayor is you, the people. The people I get to serve and the people I get to work with. It’s an honor—the highest honor of my life.

Each day, when we’ve made a contribution to the lives of the people of Santa Fe, it’s been a good day. For that, I’m grateful..

You’ll be hearing more from me soon. For now, thank you, Santa Fe. I have loved serving as your Mayor.

Alan Webber

Mayor, City of Santa Fe