Former Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales Dies at 55

Javier Gonzales made an outsized impact on Santa Fe through his role as a mayor, political leader and community member.

Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center announced Gonzales’ death on Wednesday afternoon. The 55-year-old had been a patient after a cancer diagnosis less than two years ago, and also worked as the vice president and chief development officer for the hospital’s foundation.

Reactions to the former mayor’s death swiftly followed.

House Speaker Brian Egolf announced the news at the end of the floor session a few hours after his death, calling for a moment of prayer and noting Gonzales was “a good friend to many in the Legislature and in the City of Santa Fe and the State of New Mexico.”

Following in his father’s footsteps—George Gonzales was Santa Fe’s mayor from 1968 to 1972—Gonzales announced his candidacy for mayor in August 2013, defeating then-City Councilors Patti Bushee and Bill Dimas.

Despite an upbringing steeped in politics, Gonzales’ road to the mayor’s seat was marked by firsts. He was the first mayor of Santa Fe to succeed a father in the role, and he was the first openly gay mayor of the City Different.

“He was balanced, he was thoughtful, he respected everybody’s opinion,” Cyndi Conn, a friend of Gonzales’, tells SFR. “I mean, his biggest flaw was always trying to make everybody happy.” Conn says she and Gonzales met on his campaign trail and became fast friends, always “at each other’s side.”

In a recent interview, Gonzales told SFR, “One of the things we’ve learned over the pandemic has been this bond that the community naturally feels toward health care workers. The community wants to figure out a way to lighten the load.” And Santa Fe, he added, has “a culture of cariño...[when] somebody is having a tough time, there is a sense in the community try to figure out how to help them out.”

His most prominent political role as mayor followed two terms on the Santa Fe County Commission, from 1995 to 2002, and a stint as chairman of the state Democratic Party, from 2009 to 2013.

Prior to announcing his run for mayor, Gonzales came out as gay publicly in a blog post embracing his sexual identity and faith in the Santa Fe community, noting that his “failed marriage” was a consequence of his attempts to hide his sexuality, having grown up in a traditional, extended Catholic family in Santa Fe. “Our very existence as a community is proof that we are better when we value and accept one another for who we are without judgment,” he wrote in 2013.

“He listened to everybody. He stopped and paid attention,” Conn tells SFR. “He just wanted to know people, he cared, he cared deeply.”

City Councilor Signe Lindell, who sat on Gonzales’ council as his mayor pro-tem, described him “a terrific mentor”, but says “he was also a fabulous friend. He’s the kind of guy that half of Santa Fe thought that they were his best friend. He had that kind of magic.”

Longtime friend and Zozobra Event Chair Ray Sandoval said “what always amazed” him about his relationship with Gonzales was “he always made me feel like it was symbiotic, that he was learning just as much for me as what he was teaching me. His love for our city, our community, our traditions, it was impressive to watch somebody who cared so much and was able to really accomplish things that were difficult.”

Gonzales’ effort to tax sugary drinks left a notable footprint on his political career. He posited a 2% tax on sugar beverages, which failed at the ballot box, as a way to finance early childhood education in Santa Fe.

Kate Noble, who worked in Gonzales’ administration for three years on his economic development initiatives, notes his “brilliant” communication skills and, his less well known, gift with writing, which enabled him to be a “unifying force” in Santa Fe.

“I don’t think anybody,” Noble tells SFR, “could exceed his charisma and magnetism in a room when he was talking about something he felt passionate about and believed in.”

Opting to serve only one term as Santa Fe’s mayor to devote more time raising his youngest daughter, Gonzales endorsed Alan Webber, who would become the city’s first full-time mayor in 2018.

“Santa Fe has lost a home-grown, home-town hero,” Webber said in a statement. “Mayor Gonzales was a beloved community member, a devoted community servant and a visionary community leader. He was a true son of Santa Fe, the son of a former mayor and a dedicated and loving father. He and his whole family have done so much for our community and given so much to our community. He loved Santa Fe and Santa Fe loved him back. We embrace him and his family and offer our thanks for his life and his leadership even as we mourn his passing. Mayor Gonzales left us far too soon, but the work he did and the legacy he left us will endure for years and years and years. On a personal note, I’ve lost a friend, a mentor, an advisor and a strong and steady presence in my life and in my work. I miss him, we all miss him and he will be long remembered, long celebrated and long appreciated. May peace be upon him, and may his memory be a blessing.”

On Wednesday, Webber sent a letter to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham requesting that she issue an executive order to lower all flags to half-mast in honor of Mayor Gonzales and the significant contributions he made to the city and state.

The governor also issued a statement describing herself as “deeply saddened by the loss of an undisputed leader and deeply treasured member of the northern New Mexico community. Javier Gonzales was a trailblazer, a fierce advocate, and a dedicated leader—he was also a beloved son, a remarkable father, and an incredible friend, including to me.

“Even before he became known across the country for his devotion to protecting and furthering equal rights, New Mexicans knew and loved Javier for his dedication to uplifting youth, to improving the health and wellbeing of the community, and to protecting the environment for generations to come. He was a wonderfully kind, courageous, and effective man New Mexicans have lost an incredible champion.”

Following his time as a public servant, Gonzales took up work with Descartes Labs. But it was there, away from the public spotlight, that he learned of the source of aches and pains that had recently plagued him.

In Oct. 2020 Gonzales publicly shared his stage 4 cancer diagnosis with the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Faced with the uncertainty of this new reality, Gonzales took an optimistic stance toward the future. After becoming a patient of Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, Gonzales sat down with the hospital leadership to discuss how the former Santa Fe leader could support their mission. That soon led to a job with the foundation.

“Today, CHRISTUS St Vincent learned that our loved and greatly admired friend and colleague, Javier Gonzales, passed away peacefully,” read a statement issued by hospital CEO and President Lillian Montoya. “During his time at CHRISTUS St Vincent, Javier’s leadership and contributions to the work of our mission exemplified our core values of excellence and compassion. We are better for his having contributed to our mission and we will be less without him. We are deeply saddened by this loss, and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.”

State Auditor Brian Colón posted on Facebook that Gonzales was “a leader who provided friendship, love and guidance at the exact moments I needed them most...Hon. Javier Gonzales. He was a trailblazer of a human. I am a better person and led better with his belief that I could. You’ll be missed and never forgotten, hermano. Grateful for our calls and to have observed your love for family and others along with your consistent strength through adversity.”

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, similarly shared his condolences on Twitter, “Javier was relentless in pursuing justice and equality and his legacy will last for generations.”

Gonzales’ death marks the first Santa Fe mayoral death since Louis Montano, who served from 1982 to 1986, died in 2008. Gonzales is survived by his two daughters, Cameron and Cadence, two brothers, Estevan and Patricio Gonzales, hosts of the local radio show KSWV. His brother Anthony died in 2009.

In her last text exchange with her friend, Conn says Gonzales wrote to her, “Live your best life. Be kind to everybody.”

An obituary published by Rivera Family Funerals notes that due to COVID-19, a public memorial service will be held at a future day to be announced.