Local AFSCME Makes Endorsements For City Election

Javier Gonzales picked up his third major labor endorsement for mayor

Santa Fe's largest citywide labor union has issued endorsements for the upcoming city elections.---

For mayor, the American Federation of State, Municipal and Country Employees Local 3999, which represents city employees, gave its nod to former state Democratic Party Chairman Javier Gonzales. This marks Gonzales' third major labor endorsement in the election, following the Northern New Mexico Central Labor Council and the New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council. 

For city council, the union endorsed city planning commissioner Signe Lindell for District 1, made a duel endorsement for gallery owner Mary Louise Bonney and neighborhood activist Rad Acton for District 2 and favored incumbent councilor Carmichael Dominguez for District 3.

Dan Esquibel, who chairs AFSCME's People Committee, says he and two others spent all day Saturday reviewing and scoring each candidate's answer to all of the union's 27 questions.

So far, Patti Bushee is the only other mayoral candidate in the three-way race to receive a major union endorsement, gaining a nod last week from the local firefighters' union. Bill Dimas, who has held fundraisers at the local Fraternal Order of Police building, is also running for the city's top position. FOP hasn't yet made an endorsement.

For a look at AFSCME 3999's question-and-answer sessions with the city candidates, click here.

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