Santa Fe’s new mayor, Michael Garcia, steps into office with a significant number of leadership vacancies following a series of high-profile departures. The city manager’s job listing highlights that the selected candidate will have the unique chance to appoint approximately half of the senior management team due to recent retirements and resignations. This situation creates both an opportunity for Garcia to reshape the city’s administration and a challenge as he navigates the complexities of filling these roles.
The transition comes after former Mayor Alan Webber completed his term, during which a number of senior city leaders, including the city manager, city attorney, city clerk, and police chief, resigned. As of January 1, 2025, the city is without these key positions, along with over seven director-level roles. This shift marks the first time Santa Fe has transitioned between strong mayors, a governance structure that often experiences higher turnover in leadership.
During a news conference after his inauguration on January 1, Garcia expressed confidence in managing the vacancies. He stated that it is common for appointees of a previous administration to leave when a new mayor takes office. “At the end of the day, it’s the workforce that gets the work done every day,” he remarked. In his inaugural speech, he emphasized the need to reduce “unnecessary bureaucratic bloat and overlap,” highlighting a commitment to streamline operations within City Hall.
Garcia’s administration plans to conduct a comprehensive review of the city’s organizational structure to ensure that vacant positions are filled promptly and effectively. He aims to build a strong team that will guide the city over the next four years. The former city manager, Mark Scott, who earned $225,000 annually, had resigned amidst tensions with Garcia, further complicating the leadership landscape.
Several notable resignations have occurred recently, including that of City Attorney Erin McSherry and City Clerk Andréa Salazar. Police Chief Paul Joye, who retired after nearly two decades of service, has expressed interest in running for the Santa Fe County sheriff’s position. Other departures include Community Services Division Director Maria Sanchez-Tucker, who will take a role at the New Mexico History Museum, and Finance Director Emily Oster, who accepted a position with the New Mexico State Investment Council.
Recent vacancies have compounded previous openings, including the position of public utilities director, which has remained unfilled since the termination of John Dupuis in January 2025. His departure followed an arrest on a larceny charge. The city is also without a director for the Metropolitan Redevelopment Agency after Daniel Hernandez resigned in August, citing inadequate support for the office.
Garcia’s critics, including Webber and former City Councilor Signe Lindell, have raised concerns about the potential difficulties in replacing such a large number of senior staff. “When you lose most of your senior staff, I think that’s problematic,” Lindell noted. Despite these challenges, Garcia sees the vacancies as an opportunity to reevaluate how City Hall operates, aiming to foster a work environment that attracts talent both locally and regionally.
The recent turnover is not unprecedented. The city has experienced significant churn in leadership positions throughout Webber’s term, with many roles taking considerable time to fill. The city clerk and affordable housing director positions, for example, remained vacant for over a year. In light of this history, Garcia’s administration is poised to prioritize filling these key roles efficiently.
Rob Carty, director of the International City/County Management Association Fund, has indicated that leadership changes typically lead to departmental shifts. His research underscores the trend of increased senior leadership turnover in municipalities with a strong mayoral system, like Santa Fe.
As Garcia embarks on his new role, he remains committed to ensuring that Santa Fe is a desirable workplace. He aims to create an environment where current employees feel valued, and new talent is drawn to the city. “It’s my priority to ensure that not only are we the desired workplace for the residents of Santa Fe, but we begin to recruit talent regionally to come work for our city,” he asserted.
The coming months will prove crucial for Garcia as he addresses the leadership gaps within Santa Fe’s city government and attempts to set a clear direction for his administration.
