Santa Fe County Commissioner Justin Greene on Wednesday formally announced his candidacy for the mayor of the city of Santa Fe, becoming the seventh person to enter the race to succeed Mayor Alan Webber. Greene joined Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón Wednesday for the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” in the first of a series of interviews with Santa Fe’s mayoral candidates.

Greene, who said he moved to Santa Fe after he finished college 32 years ago, discusses his background in business, architecture and development and how he feels his experiences could help him as mayor. He also shares what he feels his top achievements are 2 ½ years into his time as a county commissioner.

Chacón asks Greene to share his thoughts on Webber’s tenure in office and about what makes him stand out from the rest of the candidates who are running to succeed the two-term mayor who has announced he will not pursue another term.

In his Wednesday news conference announcing his campaign for mayor, Greene mentioned a south-side investment plan. Chacón asks Greene to speak about the plan, which Greene says would involve the creation of a south-side plaza and mercado.

Chacón also asks Greene how he’d go about creating more affordable housing in the city, what his plans would be to address homelessness, and what he feels should be done with the toppled Soldiers’ Monument on the Plaza.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A progressive Democrat from Santa Fe, Brian Egolf served in the New Mexico state Legislature from 2009 to 2022 and was the House speaker for five years. He chose not to run again at the end of his last term and has been out of politics for the past three years. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Santa Fe New Mexican lead politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón catches up with Egolf to see what he misses and doesn’t miss about life as a legislator. The 48-year-old attorney shares how a road trip to national parks with his daughters helped sway his decision not to run for re-election. Chacón also asks Egolf if he would ever consider running for public office again. Egolf also answers questions about what he’s most proud of from his time in the Legislature, how he would respond to criticism that he pushed New Mexico too far to the left of the political spectrum, what he thinks about how lawmakers addressed public safety issues in the most recent 60-day session, and what has troubled him the most so far about President Donald Trump’s second term. Asked about his thoughts on the governor’s race, Egolf speaks on his 20-year history with former U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. He’s also asked to share his thoughts on the legacy of current Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. Egolf closes the interview by discussing which part of the state produces the best red chile and shares a secret about what restaurant serves the best red chile in New Mexico.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Demonstrations against President Donald Trump have taken place across the country in the first months of his second term in office as citizens opposed to his policies have protested against what they call authoritarian actions. On Saturday, June 14, a nationwide “No Kings” protest is planned in nearly 2,000 locations, including Santa Fe and Albuquerque. The mass demonstration falls on the same day as Flag Day and a military parade in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Army. It’s also Trump’s birthday.

On the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Dr. Heidi Li Feldman joins host Daniel J. Chacón to discuss No Kings Day and share her thoughts on Trump’s second term so far. Professor of Law, Emeritus at Georgetown University Law Center, Feldman speaks about what has concerned her most about Trump’s actions and how she feels the court system has done in upholding the rule of law.

Feldman, an active member of Indivisible Santa Fe, also talks about the organization and shares the aim of the No Kings Day demonstrations.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rebecca Dow defeated a Democratic incumbent to win House District 38 in November to return to the New Mexico Legislature after an unsuccessful run for the Republican nomination for governor in 2022. Dow’s win was the only flip of a state House seat in 2024, but she sees opportunities for Republicans to gain more ground in New Mexico in coming elections.

Dow, who lives in Truth or Consequences, joins Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón for the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss her House seat victory, the race for governor, her thoughts on the 2025 legislative session and what legislation she plans to bring back for next year’s session.

Dow shares her feeling that the priorities of progressive Democrats in control of the Legislature don’t align with the values of most New Mexicans. She talks about her thoughts on public safety issues facing the state and New Mexico, including the governor’s decision to mobilize the National Guard to help tackle crime in Albuquerque.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joseph Maestas has spent much of his life in public service, with time as a city councilor in Española and Santa Fe, the mayor of Española and a member of the Public Regulation Commission. He says his current job, state auditor, has been the most rewarding as he works to safeguard taxpayer money across the state.

In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Maestas joins Santa Fe New Mexican senior political reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss his background, his current role as auditor and his plans for the future.

Serving in his third year as state auditor, Maestas talks about some of the issues his office is facing, including a contracting public accounting industry and a budget he feels falls short in allowing his department to perform its duties at the level he would like.

Maestas shares his thoughts on a DOGE-like proposal brought forth in the latest legislative session. He also talks about what’s been going on at the federal level, saying the Trump administration’s firing of federal inspectors general places more responsibility on state governments in battling fraud, waste and abuse.

Chacón asks Maestas about the city of Santa Fe’s standing as it has worked to catch up from years of late audits. He also inquires about a recently announced special audit into Mora County amid allegations of financial improprieties, including an estimated $2.7 million in unaccounted public funds.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even before she was elected to be the new chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico in late April, Sara Attleson was traveling the state and spreading the message of party unity while visiting 22 of New Mexico’s 33 counties. She has continued her travels in her first month on the job, saying her focus is to show up and listen.

Attleson joined Santa Fe New Mexican senior state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón for the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to share her mission for the state’s Democratic Party and talks about the work she’s been up to so far — including establishing party infrastructure in the six counties in the state that have none.

Chacón asks Attleson, a former librarian, about what drew her to New Mexico, how she became involved in politics and why she decided to run for the Democratic Party chair. She is asked if the party has lost its way and about how the party should respond after Donald Trump made inroads in the state in the 2024 presidential election.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Mexico’s careless driving statute returned to the spotlight recently with the tragic death of 75-year-old Glen Smith, who was struck and killed by a city bus driver operating a city-owned vehicle while Smith was sitting on a bus stop bench near the Santa Fe Place mall. Police investigators believe there is reason to charge the driver with careless driving, a petty misdemeanor. They didn’t, however, because the crash occurred on private property.

In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Santa Fe New Mexican public safety reporter Nicholas Gilmore speaks to state Sen. Antonio “Moe” Maestas, D-Albuquerque, about several public safety topics, including attempted changes to the state’s careless driving statute.

Maestas, a member of the interim Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee, discusses the difference between reckless and careless driving. He talks about attempts to amend the careless driving statute that have all failed in the last 15 years, and what his plans are moving forward.

Gilmore also asks Maestas about issues involving the state’s Law Enforcement Certification Board and Law Enforcement Academy. Maestas speaks of the need to fix the relationship between the certification board and the Department of Public Safety.

Maestas talks about some of his legislative priorities, which include probation reform and police training reform. He also shares his thoughts on a possible special session focused on public safety that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham hinted at following the conclusion of this year’s 60-day legislative session.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Mexico state Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, was a co-sponsor of a contentious paid family and medical leave bill that stalled out in the Senate Finance Committee during this year's 60-day legislative session after it had passed through the House. A different paid family and medical leave bill last year passed the Senate but narrowly failed in the House.

Chandler joined Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Margaret O'Hara for the latest episode of "Around the Roundhouse" to discuss the changes and compromises that were implemented to the most recent version of the bill and shares her thoughts on the path forward.

Chandler talks about House Bill 8, a public safety package with criminal competency reforms that passed during the session, and the issues it addresses. She also offers her thoughts on the possibility of a special session to further tackle public safety issues, which Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham hinted at at the conclusion of the 60-day session.

O'Hara closes by asking Chandler about what she will focus on during the legislative interim. Some of the issues she mentioned include juvenile crime and juvenile justice, and a regulatory framework about how artificial intelligence is used to make consequential decisions.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.