SFR Talk: Ghoul Runnings

Santa Fe Mayor David Coss is running for re-election in the March 2, 2010 municipal election. Former City Manager Asenath Kepler is challenging him, as is District 3 City Councilor Miguel Chavez. SFR reached all of them by telephone to ask the week's most burning question.

SFR: What are you going to be for Halloween?
Coss: Actually, I'm going to be at the Mayor's Ball, so I think I'll be in black tie. I'll be the mayor. I haven't decided if I'm going to wear a costume for that. What I might do is wear the outfit the Warehouse 21 people made for me during Design Week a few years ago. I think it might go good with a tux. They took a formal shirt and they just decorated it very elegantly—kind of like silk screen, but a different technique. Then they took some white linen pants and did the same thing. It was a hit at the fashion show. And it's a great outfit for Mardi Gras.

Do you have any theories on why Santa Feans take Halloween so seriously?
Um, I thought everybody took Halloween seriously. I would guess it has to do with the long history: We've seen a lot of death. And the closeness here with Dia de los Muertos. We do have a high concentration of highly creative people.

What's the best costume you've seen in the past few years?
The one that strikes me the most is [clothing designer] Pilar Agoyo's husband. Man, he had the most convincing devil I ever saw.

SFR: I have a really important and serious question—what are you going to be for Halloween?
Kepler: Hahaha! Oh my God. I'm going to have to think about that one. You know me, I have a tendency to say what comes to mind. It's very important, as you're pointing out. Can I mull it over for two minutes?

Sure.
I'll call you back in three minutes. [Approximately 40 minutes later:] It's Asenath. I've had people in here since I walked in the door…I just need a few minutes.

SFR: I'm asking all the mayoral candidates: What are you going to be for Halloween?
Chavez: You know, I don't have any plans. I have no costume in mind or anything like that. There's actually a play, though—it was the opening night last night, over at the drama club at Santa Fe High School—and there's a show Thursday and Friday. So that's one possibility. As for a costume, I don't have anything in mind.

We shouldn't take from this that you're a procrastinator.
No. It's just that preparing for Halloween was not at the top of my list of things to do.

I can't imagine why.
It's just work: trying to get my firewood ready and patching roofs, getting ready for winter. And campaign work. It's been interesting. We're getting some positive feedback.

Kepler: [Approximately 15 minutes later:] OK. I've got a minute to tell you: It's La Llorona. I hope she's not taken yet. She's the ghost who walks along the Santa Fe River. I had to look up the spelling.

Why her?
Because I'm back from the dead—and certain elected officials had better watch out!

You know, you're the only one who consulted with staff on this.
Oh no, I didn't consult any staff. I had somebody in here, and I said, 'Oh my God…What should I be?' He didn't tell me. I just bought myself some time. This is a legend that my family has been intrigued with for many years. It's a classic. It was either that or Glenda the Good Witch.

Santa Fe Reporter