Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber
SANTA FE – A Santa Fe ethics committee has rejected efforts by Mayor Alan Webber to impose financial disclosure obligations on fraternal organizations that have criticized his handling of historical monuments and tribute disputes.
Webber is seeking a second term in the November elections amid disputes over monuments and tributes to New Mexico’s Spanish colonial history and the armed conflict of the 19th century.
Webber attorney Jeff Herrera argued Thursday that voters have a right to know more about the spending of the groups who sponsored a newspaper ad and courtyard signs critical of the mayor prior to the election.
The board members voted 4-0 to dismiss the complaint for several reasons. Board member Paul Biderman said city campaign disclosure requirements do not apply to groups that are not primarily political organizations and that allegations of collusion with a rival candidate have been misguided.
The incumbent mayor is running against Democrat JoAnne Vigil Coppler, a member of the city council, and Republican Alexis Martinez Johnson, who ran for Congress in 2020.
Webber’s complaint was directed against Union Protectiva de Santa Fe, an advocacy group for Spanish colonial heritage and pride, along with local chapters of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars – alleging that the groups funded newspaper advertisements, courtyard signs, and social media spots in Coordination with Vigil Coppler.
Virgil Vigil, president of Union Protectiva, said the rejection of the complaint was a victory for freedom of expression as local Hispanic residents defend historical monuments and traditions.
He said the group’s advocacy campaign started ahead of election season without going into whether it actively supports Vigil Coppler.
“We started this process in June last year, at which point no one was running for office,” he said. “It’s about respecting the city and the culture.”
A memorial honoring Union soldiers who died fighting indigenous tribes and Confederate soldiers was overthrown by a crowd last year.
A counterclaim filed by Union Protectiva accuses the mayor of “bullying” and city-sponsored recreational activities to encourage his re-election.
Conflicts over history in Santa Fe have escalated amid a national discussion of public markings paying tribute to historical figures related to racism, slavery and genocide.
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