The Santa Fe Reporter from Santa Fe, New Mexico • Page 32

MAYOR, MAYOR Continued from page 17 I didn't get elected to be a caretaker. I got elected to make changes." Chavez has avoided any of the major skirmishes with the council that some of his predecessors had, but has at times reached a boiling point of frustration with its members, and vice versa, most notably during the negotiations to build the Montano Bridge. At one point, when the council shelved the project, the mayor exclaimed to the media, "I've done everything I can with this city council." Eventually, a couple of councilors changed their minds. Councilor Sam Bregman says that council-mayoral difficulties like these are exceptions. An unabashed Chavez supporter, Bregman describes Chavez as "the best mayor this city's ever had.

"He says the mayor has an open-door policy and has communicated with him "on every major issue." "The mayor is very good at focusing on goals, "he hereally knows how to work issues and people in order to get the necessary votes." As for Chavez' possible gubernatorial aspirations, Bregman says, "He'd have a real advantage in working with a legislature, since he has experience as a legislator and he works with a legislative body every day. He has great leadership qualities. He has vision, and he truly loves this state. He would make a strong, progressive governor." Other councilors are somewhat more critical of Chavez. "He's done agood job in terms of what he wants for the city," Councilor Alan Armijo says.

"He's got lots of ideas; he's very bright and hard-working and reaches out to the public in general. But he needs better communication with the council, more dialogue ahead of time, instead of just giving a press conference on some issue and catching us by surprise." Referring to what occasionally has been noted as Chavez' tendency for taking most of the credit for city improvements, Armijo says, "He needs to realize that 50 percent of his success is due to the council's support of his ideas. He needs to get away from the type of issue more money for police so reduce He has to realize it takes more than just him. "1 think he could do a good job as governor, but if he doesn't work on improving these issues, he's going to have the same kind of problems with a legislature." 4 :15 p.m.: The graduation ceremony has run so long that the mayor has to meet with his 3:30 appointment 45 minutes late. Three teenagers and an adult are ushered into the mayor's office.

They are members of Youth Link, a statewide group for teens that addresses various social issues and has the goal of ensuring that there is a voice for youth in public policy. Nakaya Estrada, a junior at West Mesa High School, takes the lead. She lectures Chavez on the finer points of the organization, explaining how they want to "break the barriers between youth and adults," while he listens intently, his hand propped under his chin. She offers members of Youth Link as trainers for other teens who are involved in running the Youth Advisory Council. In the past, she says, this job was done by adults, but teens will be far more likely to listen if trained by other teens.

"If you make that offer, I'm going to take you up on it," he says, agreeing with her, BUST, BUSY: Chavez speaks on the phone during a conference with aide Jay Czar, right, and music promoters Michael Murphy and Chris Fahlman, consultants on an amphitheater project. PHOTO BY GUY AMBBQSWO and promises to meet with those in charge of the Youth Advisory Council to incorporate Youth Link's ideas. Their meeting concluded, the mayor asks Estrada "How's West Mesa this year? How's the violence?" She tells him that school security is a lot more visible now, but that she doesn't think a closed cam-" pus is helping. Chavez nods thoughtfully. He's taking it all in.

5 p.m.: The mayor's day isn't over. taking advantage of a few spare moments to push some more paper, but he's still got a couple of staff meetings to attend, some sort of proclamation to issue and a community citizens' banquet to go to. Then he's taking his kids for pizza. "This has been a good day," he says, "not a very long day at all. This is the pace I like to keep things at.

Some say I move too fast, but 1 only know one speed." The mayor glances up from his paperwork. He smiles. He shrugs. "I'm very aware of the things I've accomplished and the things I haven't done yet, but I sleep well every night. If I never get re-elected to ah office again, I'll still be very comfortable with my life." "Mr.

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