SF.Elections.PattiBushee

Patti Bushee Candidate for Mayor For the purposes of this forum, sponsored by Voices of Santa Fe, candidates were requested to focus on the three core issues they believe are facing Santa Fe. Further core issues and additional comments sent by the candidate on their background, motivation, etc. are found after the section on Core Issues. Core issues: Water Work to bring the SJC water online at the earliest possible date. Secure a longer lease term for our SJC water rights from the Bureau of Reclamation. Will enact the Community Water Budget Ordinance that ties land use to the available water supply. Will pursue implementation of the Water Coalition's Consumer Water Budget Proposal. Will pursue further water conservation measures and funding for rebate/incentive programs and education/technical assistance. Will continue to follow up on all short range and long range regional water planning efforts. Will encourage the Legislature to approve the monitoring of private wells. Land Use Will pursue Land Use Policies that further facilitate appropriate infill and affordable housing while avoiding any community or environmental costs associated with "sprawl." Mend the disconnect between Land Use Planning and Water Availability. Advocate for a true city-county planning process around the issues of water and land use. Pursue annexations of areas that make economical and planning sense, and masterplan these new areas with the development of affordable housing as a high priority. Put in place an expanded development impact fees to require growth to pay its fair share of infrastructure costs. Take care of basic city infrastructure needs - sewer, roads etc. Pursue passage of stricter Storm Water Drainage Regulations and Policies. Economy Work to sustain, diversify and expand our local economy and increase wages. Re-focus and re-prioritize our resources, both fiscal and natural, to implement tenets of the Community Economic Development Plan. Put performance evaluations in place to measure our yearly success in terms of jobs created. Provide leadership on education issues, including improvement of our schools and workforce training. Follow through on the development of a new (not much expanded) Civic Center for visitors as well as locals. see below for further core issues Councilwoman Bushee addresses Top three priorities once elected: Water:Implement and expand upon the four point plan on water. Aggressively pursue new sources of water. Secure a longer lease term for our SJC water rights from the Bureau of Reclamation. Pursue further water conservation measures and funding for rebate/incentive programs and education/technical assistance. Enact the Community Water Budget Ordinance that ties land use to the available water supply. Economy: Work to sustain, diversify and expand our local economy and increase wages. Re-focus and re-prioritize our resources, both fiscal and natural, to implement tenets of the Community Economic Development Plan. Provide leadership on education issues, including improvement of our schools and workforce training. Follow through on the development of a new (not much expanded) Civic Center for visitors as well as locals. Affordable Housing: Provide hope to our young people that they might be able to earn a livable wage or afford a place to live in Santa Fe. Will pursue Land Use Policies that further facilitate appropriate infill and affordable housing while avoiding any community or environmental costs associated with "sprawl." Pursue annexations of areas that make economical and planning sense, and masterplan these new areas with the development of affordable housing as a high priority. Work together with government entities, nonprofits, neighborhoods and the development community to find creative solutions to our housing problems. Further Comments by the Candidate Further core issues addressed by Patti Bushee Open Space/Trails/Alternative Transportation Secure funding through expanded impact fees and other means of a citywide greenbelt and network of trails. Secure funding to complete the Santa Fe River Restoration and River Park Trail System. Continue to support an expanded transit system for the city, Park N Ride System to the north and advocate for a commuter rail system to downtown. Cultural/Human Resources Provide hope to our young people that they might be able to earn a livable wage or afford a place to live in Santa Fe. Work with school board and other organizations to improve education, create more opportunities for our youth. Provide continued support for our immigrant population. Shepherd the build out of the community owned railyard as a new, vibrant arts and cultural center, with an emphasis on local needs. Provide leadership needed to ensure our community's public safety. Energy Open up the energy market in Santa Fe, through the city's purchasing of power, to provide sustainable sources of energy. Background Information · City Councilor -District 1 - 8 years · Small business owner - Ladybug Landscaping -16 years · Santa Fe Resident - 20 years - homeowner in Barrio del Torreon · Fluent in Spanish Education · 1981, Graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs/Political Science and a Certificate in Spanish - University Of Maine. Member Phi Beta Kappa. · 1981, attended George Washington University study program in International Economics · 1979-1980, studied abroad at the Universidad de Sevilla - Sevilla, Espana. City Committees Finance Committee - 8 years Public Works - 8 years (chairwoman, last 4 years) Transportation Policy Board - 7 years Regional Planning Authority - 1 ½ years Highway Corridor development Plan Some Accomplishments while on City Council · Created and implemented Community Day · Early Neighborhood Notification Act · City-wide traffic Calming · Initiated development of water policies, including pending Community Water Budget, to tie land uses to available water supply. · Changes to zoning to advance incremental infill and affordable housing · Advanced legislation to increase impact fees to require growth pay it's fair share · Advocate for community-based economic development · Helped create small business advisory committee · Created Construction industry advisory committee Open Space Legislation · Santa Fe River Plan to restore Santa Fe river and watershed · Advanced city's trail networks/bicycle paths; changed street standards requiring bike paths along all new roads · Co-Sponsored Home Occupation Ordinance to allow people to conduct business from their residence · Helped create first dog park · Led battle to regulate transport of all hazardous materials through city · Passed hate crimes ordinance What Patti will do as Mayor · Create leadership in city hall and better management of city departments - a more professional and responsive local government. · Carefully manage our water supply and require all new development live within a community water budget. · Aggressively pursue new sources for water · Create a sustainable future for Santa Fe by preserving our cultural, human and natural resources. · Work to sustain, diversify and expand our local economy · Work hard to increase wages and create more affordable housing · Create more opportunities for youth · Shepherd build out of the community owned rail yard as a new, vibrant center. · Take care of basic city infrastructure needs - sewer, roads, etc. · Provide leadership needed to ensure our community's public safety · Work with school board and other organizations to improve education · Offer an open government that is accessible and accountable to the entire community. Patti Bushee for Mayor: Why am I the best candidate for Mayor? I offer a dynamic, new style of leadership. As a City Councilor, I have been known as an honest and hardworking agent of change. I am not afraid to make tough calls. I am not beholden to special interests. I am committed to smart and sustainable growth. I will work with whatever council I am given through the electoral process to provide the vision and leadership that can move this city forward. I am a proactive leader who has the energy, experience and ability to do the job and do it well. "Dedication, Vision, Passion and Fairness…these are the qualities I've come to appreciate in Patti Bushee over the years that I've known her. She is exactly the kind of leader we need as Mayor at this critical time in Santa Fe's history. Patti brings people together to get things done. Mayor Patti Bushee…what a breath of fresh air she'll be!" State Representative Patsy Trujillo-Knauer We will continue to update our information on the candidates, and plan to sponsor additional dialog, and possibly interviews for this election. If you would like to assist in keeping these pages updated, organize candidate meetings, or have other ideas for supporting democracy in our local community, please contact The Global Dialog Project at valor@global-dialog.org