3 final thoughts

This is my last note to you as Mayor of Santa Fe before I leave office on January 1.

I have three last thoughts to share.

First, thank you. Serving as your Mayor for the last 8 years has been the greatest honor of my life. I’m enormously grateful for the opportunity—and the responsibility.

Second, stay engaged with your city. Santa Fe is a great city. It needs your ongoing engagement, commitment, and dedication to keep it a great city. Ask much of yourselves and ask even more of your elected officials.

I’ve always thought leadership was about character. During my time in office these are the “three questions of leadership” that have guided me:

What do you stand for? In other words, what are your core values as a leader? What won’t you stand for – will you stand up in the face of bullying or other unacceptable behaviors? Who do you stand with – are you prepared to use the power of the government to help those who have the least and need the most?

And finally, stay positive and optimistic. Don’t succumb to the negativity, cynicism, and divisiveness that define the politics of the moment. In Santa Fe, there is no them vs. us—there is only us.

Remember the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

Bring your light to this great city.

Thank you again. I look forward to seeing you in 2026!