Bushee to Run Again for City Council

City Councilor Patti Bushee announced Friday she intends to run for a fifth term representing the City Different’s District 1.

“Many of my District One constituents have encouraged me to continue to represent them,” Bushee said in an email. “In fact, many from throughout Santa Fe have asked me to continue to serve, recognizing my strong, independent, leadership, particularly when it comes to my insistence on fiscal accountability.”

Also, Santa Fe Southern Railway board member and retired businessman Bob Sarr said he plans to compete for a seat in District 2.

“I’m disappointed with the way the administration is managing things,” he said. “I have watched them now for a couple of years pretty closely. I come from a background of working for organizations on all levels around the world and I think a lot better job could be done with this city administration.”

Sarr has an MBA from Stanford and spent time in the Army and working for major corporations such as Proctor and Gamble before moving to Santa Fe and joining Santa Fe Southern.

Bushee was appointed to serve District 1 in 1994, then won election in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008. In the latter contest, she was overwhelmingly sent back to City Hall with 72 percent of the popular vote.

The election next March could be more complicated, however. A new city redistricting map recently approved by the City Council puts long-term District 3 City Councilor Miguel Chavez’s home in Bushee’s territory.

Chavez has not indicated his future plans. He did not immediately return a message left Friday afternoon.

Bushee currently works for the Water Use and Conservation Bureau of the state Engineer’s Office.

Four City Council seats – representing each of Santa Fe’s four districts – and the office of Municipal Judge are up for grabs in the election next March. Candidate packets will be available at the City Clerk’s Office beginning Tuesday. This is the first election that candidates can qualify for public financing.