David Coss

Candidate for City Council, District 3

For the purposes of this forum, sponsored by Voices of Santa Fe, candidates were requested to focus on the three core issues they believe are facing Santa Fe. Further core issues and additional comments sent by the candidate on their background, motivation, etc. are found after the section on Core Issues.


Core issues:

“I want City government to engage the community--labor, business, nonprofit groups and individuals--to create economic opportunity for Santa Fe families.”

  • I will support smart growth policies that can provide economic opportunity and good jobs at livable wages.
  • I will support regional planning and working with our County Commission to manage growth in Santa Fe
  • I will work to ensure the City aggressively addresses and solves the affordable housing problem in Santa Fe.
  • To protect working family income, the City should require that development pays its fair share of new infrastructure costs, especially costs related to increasing our water supply.

“ “We must make sure our families have a livable city with a healthy environment.”

  • I will increase the priority on neighborhood issues such as parks, sidewalks, drainage, bike and pedestrian paths as well as convenient, affordable bus service.
  • Water is our most finite natural resource. I have a lifetime of education in environmental science and professional, hands-on experience with the people of Santa Fe to help in the implementation of water policy for our region.
  • I will make sure restoration work on the Santa Fe River continues.
  • I will be an advocate for our youth and a partner for our school system


Further Comments by the Candidate

Background Information

  • Raised in Santa Fe, Santa Fe High, Class of ’72
  • Married to Carol Rose. Three children--Celedina, Dylan and Molly
  • Graduate of New Mexico State University and Southern Illinois University

David’s Experience:

  • Field Operations Division Director, State Land Office, Team Leader for Santa Fe River Rio Nuevo project
  • Santa Fe City Manager and Public Works Director, Chairman, Santa Fe River Commission
  • Environmental Protection Division Director, NM Environment Department, King Administration
  • Executive Board Officer, Communications Workers of America, Local 7037, AFL-CIO, worker representative, contract negotiations, lobbyist
  • Pastoral Council Chairman, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
  • Member, Santa Fe County Open Lands, Trails and Parks Committee

The citizens of District 3—workers, small business owners and our students and seniors--work hard to make Santa Fe a better place for all of us to live and to raise our families. I have the background and experience in Santa Fe to make city government work for all of us. I ask for your support to represent our community on the City Council.

I ask for your vote on March 5, 2002. If you would like more information about me or to help in our campaign, please call me at 988-7373.

What Others are Saying About David;

The Health Care Team of District 1199
Executive Committee of District 1199(AFSCME) St. Vincent's Hospital :

“Mr. Coss has long served the community of Santa Fe in an ever-expanding and responsible capacity. In his career he has proven to be extremely effective in advocating health care equity and quality, along with improved accessibility for all.
Mr. Coss' progressive vision for Santa Fe -- its people , its land, and its place in the future of New Mexico -- is refreshing in its scope and its inclusive nature.
Indeed, David Coss is the person that we can truly say represents what we hope and strive for in the future of Santa Fe.”

Vickie L. Sewing
Principal, Salazar Elementary School:

“It is my pleasure to endorse David Coss in his bid for a city council seat. As an educator of 30 years and a Santa Fe resident for over 20 years, I am familiar with David's commitment to children and education and to Santa Fe. I have worked with him on numerous projects and he is reliable, responsible and conscientious in his work. It would be to the community's benefit to have David Coss serving the citizens of Santa Fe on the city council.”

Juanita Montoya,
Chairman, Santa Fe Community Housing Trust:

“As a native of Santa Fe working in the helping professions; as a religious educator and as a volunteer in those areas that uphold the dignity of persons in prison ministries, women's ministries and as an affordable housing advocate -- I endorse David Coss as a man of integrity who will uphold the dignity of all persons."


We will continue to update our information on the candidates, and plan to sponsor additional dialog, and possibly interviews for this election. If you would like to assist in keeping these pages updated, organize candidate meetings, or have other ideas for supporting democracy in our local community, please contact The Global Dialog Project at valor@global-dialog.org