UPDATE: Renee won her five-way race with almost 60 percent of the vote! Congratulations!
The Sierra Club’s Northern New Mexico Group on Jan. 3 announced its endorsement of Renee Villarreal for Santa Fe City Council District 1.
A former Santa Fe County planner and former member of the City of Santa Fe Planning Commission, Renee has extensive experience in the nonprofit world and received praise from multiple city and county officials who have worked with her.
The Northern New Mexico Group Political Committee interviewed all candidates for District 1, the only contested race, and found that Villarreal demonstrated a dedication to protecting Santa Fe’s air, water, wildlife and climate and had the experience and temperament to be a valuable addition to the Santa Fe City Council.
“The Sierra Club recognizes that our air, land, and water resources are not divided by city or county boundaries. Solutions to environmental threats must be tackled regionally and with the cooperation of both municipal and county elected officials and staff,” said Northern New Mexico Group Political Chair Susan Martin. “Renee’s city and county planning experience and her activism in the community make her an outstanding candidate for protecting our environment in the Santa Fe area.”
Sierra Club endorsements require a two-thirds vote by both the Political Committee and the Executive Committee of the endorsing body. The Northern New Mexico Group will support Villarreal by activating members to canvass, phone and contact District 1 voters for Villarreal. Election studies have shown that voters value Sierra Club endorsements highly. Many Santa Feans take Sierra Club endorsement cards with them to use as guides at the voting booth.
Paid for by the the Rio Grande Chapter of the Sierra Club PAC.
Fabulous! Renee was one of my Community Planners at Santa Fe County and her work was always exemplary. Plus, she’s simply a great person!
Jack Kolkmeyer
Former Director
Santa Fe County Growth Management Department