VOL. 27 IN THE NAME OF

Michael J. Garcia was born and raised in Santa Fe, where he grew up with a deep commitment to service and community—a value that continues to guide his life and career. He currently serves as a Santa Fe City Councilor representing District 2, while also working as a Program and Partnerships Specialist with AmeriCorps.
Michael’s service on the City Council is a continuation of nearly two decades dedicated to public service. His journey began as an AmeriCorps VISTA member and has since centered on advancing opportunities and providing critical resources to those most in need. For Michael, serving Santa Fe is both a privilege and a way to give back to the community that shaped him.
He is a proud graduate of the University of New Mexico, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in Public Administration. As an elected official, Michael prioritizes ensuring that the voices of community members are not only heard but also represented in meaningful ways.
Outside of public service, Michael enjoys spending time with his wife, their three children, and the family dog. Whether at work, in the community, or at home, his commitment to family and service remains at the heart of all he does.

Maybe it’s because Tarin Nix is the daughter of public school teachers or the fact that she spent her summers as a youth leader leading retreats and rebuilding homes but there is no doubt in her commitment to public service. Over the last decade, Tarin has given her time and expertise to organizations like Habitat for Humanity, the Northern Rio Grande National Heritage Area, Indigenous Women Rising and Santa Fe S.A.F.E.
Tarin has served as chief analyst for the House Education Committee and for the last seven years, as our Deputy Land Commissioner at the New Mexico State Land Office. As Deputy, Tarin helped build the dream team that led to cutting red tape, streamlining business services, building tribal relationships, growing our renewable energy footprint six fold, protecting wildlife and guaranteeing transparency and affordable housing.
Tarin is the founder of Fix Our City Different and holds a Masters in Social Work with specializations in public policy and nonprofit management from The University of Texas. Tarin lives in the La Madera neighborhood with her two dogs, Kit and Moxi, and serves as Treasurer of the Santa Fe Habitat HOA.

Born and raised in Santa Fe, JoAnne Vigil Coppler has dedicated more than 25 years to public service and community leadership. With a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of New Mexico and a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Eastern New Mexico University, she also completed a prestigious fellowship in Court Executive Management through the National Center for State Courts at the U.S. Supreme Court.

JoAnne’s career in public administration spans leadership roles as Director of the First Judicial District Courts, Deputy Director of the New Mexico Supreme Court, and Human Resources Director for the City of Santa Fe, Los Alamos County, and the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. She has also served as Chair of the New Mexico State Personnel Board and contributed to gubernatorial transition teams for Governors Bill Richardson and Michelle Lujan Grisham.

Deeply engaged in civic life, JoAnne has served as a Santa Fe City Councilor, Vice Chair of the NM State Employees Credit Union Board, and held leadership roles in local and state political organizations.

In addition, JoAnne is an accomplished real estate professional as a Qualifying Broker and instructor, having served as President of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors and represented New Mexico Realtors at the state and national level—including appearances as a guest realtor on HGTV’s What You Get For the Money.

Jeanne O’Dean’s local to global accomplishments encompass community organizer, to knowledge economy leadership roles, and implementing “Turtle Island” environmental stewardship by merging Indigenous earthly reverence and spiritual ways.

Whether advocating for lifelong learning, workforce development, affordable housing initiatives or fostering partnerships with local to virtual national and global businesses, O’Dean has built a reputation for pragmatic problem-solving and  collective endeavors with a collaborative spirit.

O’Dean’s B.G.S., M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D., academic studies and professional expertise—environmental science, public relations, academic-scientific-economic leadership, organizational consulting, administrative and workforce development, Global Alliances,Global Offset Countertrade

Letitia Montoya is a 17th-generation Santa Fean, a proud graduate of St. Michael’s High School, and a proven business leader with deep roots in service. As Chief Operating Officer of a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned firm, and with a Bachelor’s in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Youth Leadership from the College of Santa Fe, Letitia brings the strength of lived experience and the discipline of real-world results. She’s a fighter. Letitia has overcome addiction, poverty, and political bullying—and came back stronger to serve her community with grit, vision, and heart.

Ronald S. Trujillo is a lifelong Santa Fean, husband, father, and dedicated public servant. He is married to Amber K. Espinosa-Trujillo they have a son, Hunter, and a daughter, Krystianna. His family inspires his commitment to building a safer, stronger, and more vibrant Santa Fe for future generations.
Ron represented District 4 on the Santa Fe City Council from 2006 to 2018, earning a reputation for listening to residents and delivering results. He helped lead the 2008 Parks Bond, a $30 million voter-approved initiative that upgraded parks, improved ADA accessibility, enhanced irrigation, and added new trails citywide. In 2011, he played a key role in bringing the Santa Fe Fuego baseball team to Fort Marcy Ballpark, strengthening local culture and community engagement. Earlier, in 1994, he proudly portrayed DeVargas during the Fiesta de Santa Fe, reflecting his deep connection to the city’s history and traditions.
Beyond City Hall, Ron built a 25+ year career in the state government. He worked as a highway construction inspector, coordinated the Local Government Road Fund, and served as Adopt-a-Highway coordinator for NMDOT District 5. He oversaw oversize and heavy load permitting for the NMDOT Bridge Maintenance Bureau and spent 13 years in the Fleet Management Bureau as fleet analyst and line manager, of the state’s largest fleet, including purchasing, operations, budgeting, and equipment disposal.
In 2025, Ron announced his candidacy for the Mayor of Santa Fe, running as a publicly financed candidate focused on collaboration, affordable housing, basic city services, respect for cultures, traditions and history and a city that works for everyone.

Justin Greene is a small business owner, County Commissioner, architect, and community advocate who has spent more than three decades shaping Santa Fe’s neighborhoods and economy. From revitalizing the Railyard and co-founding Warehouse 21 to co-authoring the planning for the Community Convention Center, supporting the Farmers Market develop a permanent home and help the Pueblo of Tesuque convert an old casino into Camel Rock Studios, the first indigenous owned film studio in the world, Justin brings vision and project leadership to projects that strengthen community life and create opportunity for all.
As a Santa Fe County Commissioner, Justin has championed affordable housing, economic development, broadband access, youth education, and tribal equity. Known for his practical and solution driven approach, he works across diverse communities to build consensus and move Santa Fe forward.
Justin’s dedication to service began early. He attended a service centered high school where leadership and the arts shaped his values. After earning a Bachelor of Architecture from Syracuse University with a focus on urban design and public spaces, he moved to Santa Fe in his early twenties. He helped guide the community-based redevelopment of the historic Railyard, bringing people together through the American Institute of Architects’ design program (RuDAT).
Alongside his wife Sandra and their dog Leo, Justin has built his life in Santa Fe. With an MBA from the University of New Mexico and decades as a business owner, Justin is ready to lead Santa Fe as mayor and get stuff done.

Oscar Salazar Rodríguez is a leader shaped by deep roots, hard work, and a lifelong commitment to community. An enrolled member of the Lipan Apache Tribe, whose ancestors lived in the canyons and plains near Pecos and Santa Fe, his connection to this land is both historic and heartfelt. Like a seed flake blown from a stand of tall prairie grass, he traveled far and wide and then eventually returned home to set roots.

The proud son of a truck driver and a homemaker, Rodríguez grew up in a three-room house in the Permian Basin, where his parents raised five children of their own and two uncles with love, discipline, and sacrifice. From those humble beginnings, he became the first in his family to attend college, earning a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and a master’s degree in Urban Studies/City Planning from MIT.

For more than three decades, Oscar has dedicated his career to helping cities thrive. He has served as Assistant City Manager in Austin, Director of Innovation and Reform in Washington, D.C., City Manager in Taos, and Finance Director in Santa Fe. Internationally, he has shared his expertise with communities across Latin America, South Africa, and Sri Lanka.

Today, as Chief Financial Officer of the New Mexico Finance Authority, Rodríguez oversees $3.5 billion in assets with an annual cash flow of $1.5 billion to finance infrastructure and economic development projects throughout New Mexico, always with the goal of building stronger, fairer communities for all.