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Letitia Montoya
Letitia Montoya ran for election for Mayor of Santa Fe in New Mexico. She lost in the general election on November 4, 2025.
Montoya completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Letitia Montoya was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Montoya earned a high school diploma from St. Michael's High School, a bachelor's degree from the College of Santa Fe in 1991, and a graduate degree from the College of Santa Fe in 1999. Her career experience includes working as a chief operating officer and compliance officer. As of 2025, Montoya was affiliated with Veterans of Foreign Wars.[1]
Elections
2025
See also: Mayoral election in Santa Fe, New Mexico (2025)
General election
General election for Mayor of Santa Fe
The ranked-choice voting election was won by Michael Garcia in round 1 .
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Total votes: 24,548 |
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 = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
Endorsements
To view Montoya's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Montoya in this election.
Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Letitia Montoya completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Montoya's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Growing up with a learning disability, I was told I wouldn’t make it. But with the support of my mother and a teacher who refused to give up on me, I graduated high school, earned a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, and later a Master’s in Education. Those early struggles taught me determination, grit, and compassion for those who feel overlooked or underestimated.
Professionally, I co-own Nebula Advisers LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, where I manage compliance, finance, and operations. My career has included work in finance, education, and community development, always focused on creating opportunity for working families.
Most of all, I am a wife, mother, grandmother, and neighbor. I believe in working side by side with people, listening before leading, and always fighting for fairness and accountability. Santa Fe has given me so much, and now I am ready to give back by building a city government that is transparent, effective, and truly serves its people.- Santa Fe families, seniors, and workers are being priced out. Rents are too high, and homeownership feels out of reach. I will use city-owned land to build affordable homes, create new paths to ownership for working families, and expand housing programs that keep people stable. This isn’t about slogans—it’s about keeping Santa Fe livable for the people who built it. My plan is simple: cut red tape, bring in the right partners, and deliver results so our children and grandchildren can afford to stay here.
- Too many families are frustrated with broken roads, water issues, and services that don’t work. I will make fixing infrastructure a top priority—modernizing water and wastewater facilities, repairing streets, and ensuring basic services are delivered on time and done right. This is the foundation of a safe and healthy city. While others focus on talk, I will roll up my sleeves and get to work on what matters most. Strong services and reliable infrastructure are not extras—they are the basics that every Santa Fe resident deserves.
- People are tired of waste, favoritism, and a city government that feels out of touch. I will cut waste, reinvest in frontline workers, and make city hall transparent and accountable. At the same time, I will expand youth programs, improve our parks, and strengthen mental health services so families and neighborhoods feel supported. My leadership is not about politics—it’s about building a city where people trust their government and feel proud of their community. I will always put people before politics and fairness before favoritism.
My mother was another example of strength and persistence. When I was growing up, schools didn’t understand dyslexia or know how to support students with learning disabilities. Many doubted I would graduate, let alone succeed in college. But my mother never gave up on me. She pushed me to keep going, to stay in regular classes, and to work harder than anyone else. She taught me that success comes from perseverance and self-belief.
My teacher, Mrs. Masion, also played a life-changing role. She stood up for me when others wanted to lower expectations. She made sure I had the opportunity to succeed, and she showed me how much impact one teacher can have when they choose to believe in a student. Without her and my mother, I may not have graduated high school, earned a degree in mathematics, or gone on to a career in engineering, business, and public service.
An elected official must also be fair. Decisions should be made for the benefit of all residents, not for insiders or special interests. This means listening to every voice, treating people with respect, and ensuring city government works for everyone, not just the well-connected.
Another key characteristic is resilience. Santa Fe faces real challenges, from housing and cost of living to water and infrastructure. Leadership requires the strength to make tough choices, the courage to stand up to pressure, and the determination to keep moving forward even when it is difficult.
Humility is equally important. A good mayor does not pretend to have all the answers. They listen, learn, and admit when change is needed. True leadership is about rolling up your sleeves, working side by side with people, and earning trust through action, not words.
Finally, an elected official must be guided by service. Public office is not about personal power — it is about giving back. For me, service means prioritizing workers, families, and neighborhoods, and making decisions that strengthen the whole community.
First, the mayor must ensure city government delivers on its basic responsibilities. Clean water, wastewater treatment, safe roads, emergency response, parks, and public facilities are not optional — they are the foundation of a functioning city. Overseeing these services and making sure they work for everyone is one of the most important duties of this office.
Second, the mayor must be a responsible steward of public funds. Taxpayer dollars must be managed carefully, with waste and favoritism eliminated. The budget should reflect the priorities of the people, not insiders or contractors. It is the mayor’s duty to direct resources where they make the most impact: workers, families, and neighborhoods.
Third, the mayor must be a leader in building solutions to the city’s biggest challenges, especially housing and affordability. Santa Fe is at risk of losing the very families and workers who make this community thrive. The mayor has a responsibility to create pathways for affordable housing, homeownership, and stability so residents are not forced out.
Fourth, the mayor must listen. This office is about serving people, not commanding them. Listening to neighborhoods, respecting diverse voices, and acting on community input are core to earning and keeping trust.
I want to leave a legacy of accountability — a city government that works for residents, not for insiders. That means city workers respected and fairly paid, resources directed to housing and services, and infrastructure that finally meets the needs of our growing community. My legacy should show that leadership is not about speeches, it’s about rolling up your sleeves and fixing what is broken.
I want to leave a legacy of fairness — a Santa Fe where workers, families, and seniors all feel represented. That means affordable housing on city land, youth programs that keep kids safe and inspired, and mental health services that support families in crisis. My goal is for future generations to look back and say this was the moment when Santa Fe stopped pushing problems aside and started solving them.
Finally, I want to leave a legacy of unity. Santa Fe is rich in history, culture, and tradition, but it has also been divided by politics and inequality. My legacy will be showing that we are stronger together — that this city belongs to all of us, and that when we respect one another, we can build a Santa Fe that honors its past while creating opportunity for the future.
For a child, it was both awe-inspiring and unforgettable. It showed me that big dreams are worth chasing and that ordinary people, through hard work and determination, can accomplish extraordinary things. The Moon Landing was not just about space — it was about human potential, innovation, and the belief that progress is possible when people work together toward a common goal.
That moment shaped how I see leadership and vision. The astronauts’ courage, and the teamwork that made the mission possible, reminded me that no great achievement happens alone. It takes preparation, persistence, and trust. Even at seven years old, I knew I was witnessing history that would inspire generations to come.
My first official job came later, when I was eighteen and hired as a lifeguard for the City of Santa Fe. I worked as a lifeguard for five years while attending the College of Santa Fe. Lifeguarding was more than just a job — it was a position of trust. Families depended on me to protect their children, and that responsibility taught me accountability, discipline, and the importance of staying calm under pressure. It also gave me pride in serving my own city, where I could see every day how the work of city employees makes a difference in people’s lives.
After graduating with my degree in mathematics, I moved on to my first professional career as a Junior Engineer with TRW, analyzing data for Air Force projects. It was very different from picking up cans or working at the pool, but the foundation was the same: focus, accountability, and service.
What I love most about Moby-Dick is that it speaks to the struggles we all face. Captain Ahab’s obsession with the whale shows the dangers of letting anger or vengeance consume us, while the crew’s endurance shows the strength of working together to face impossible challenges. It is a reminder that no one overcomes life’s storms alone. The novel’s mix of hardship, persistence, and moments of grace mirrors the reality of life — filled with trials, but also with opportunities for courage and growth.
For me, reading Moby-Dick also connected to my own story. I grew up with a learning disability and was told I might never graduate. At times, school felt like my own great white whale — a challenge that others thought I could not overcome. But like the characters in the book, I refused to give up. I worked harder, leaned on the people who believed in me, and eventually succeeded in graduating with a degree in mathematics. That journey gave me a deep appreciation for stories about resilience and struggle.
Rosie the Riveter represents values I believe in deeply: determination, responsibility, and service to others. She showed that leadership is not about seeking recognition, but about stepping up when you are needed most. I look up to that spirit because it reflects the women in my own life. One of my grandmothers was a “Rosie,” working tirelessly to provide for her family while my grandfather served in the war. Her strength, and the strength of women like her, gave me a powerful example of courage and perseverance.
I connect to Rosie’s message because my own path has been about proving myself in the face of doubt. As a minority child in Santa Fe, I was often underestimated and told what I could not achieve. But I refused to accept those limits. I went on to earn a degree in mathematics, became a junior engineer, built a business, and now I am running for mayor. Like Rosie, I believe in breaking barriers and showing that determination can overcome obstacles.
The struggle was not only with the disability itself but also with the low expectations of others. I had to fight harder just to stay in regular classes and to be seen as capable. Without my mother and my teacher, Mrs. Masion, who both believed in me when others didn’t, I might never have had the chance to succeed. They refused to let me give up, and their faith in me taught me resilience.
It was not easy. Every assignment took longer, every test was harder, and the fear of being underestimated was constant. But over time, I learned how to work through it. I pushed myself to graduate from high school, then to go further and earn a degree in mathematics — a subject many assumed would be impossible for me. I went on to work as a junior engineer, start and run a successful business for decades, and now I am running for mayor of the city I love.
That struggle shaped who I am today. It taught me determination, empathy, and the importance of lifting up people who are underestimated or overlooked. It also taught me that a challenge does not define you — your response to it does.
I am ready because I have already done the work to prepare. For the last four years, I have studied budgets, walked neighborhoods, listened to residents, and learned how city departments operate. That preparation gives me the knowledge and understanding to fix problems from day one. Leadership requires more than promises — it requires preparation and persistence, and I am the only candidate who has put in that level of work before stepping forward to lead.
As mayor, I will face challenges directly. Santa Fe’s housing crisis, high cost of living, and aging infrastructure will not be solved with talk or slogans. They require tough decisions, steady action, and a willingness to put the needs of people before politics. I will not shy away from those responsibilities.
The mayor’s priority must be to make sure city hall works for everyone, not just insiders. That means pushing for fair pay for city workers, prioritizing affordable housing on city-owned land, and ensuring resources are directed to services that matter most: clean water, safe roads, reliable infrastructure, youth programs, mental health support, and senior services. Seniors are the backbone of our community, and they deserve safe neighborhoods, affordable housing options, and access to health and transportation programs that allow them to age with dignity.
A mayor must also be the city’s strongest advocate and voice. The role is not just to vote on council issues, but to use the office to build partnerships, bring in funding, and keep Santa Fe’s needs at the front of every conversation at the state and federal level.
Most importantly, the mayor must be a connector between residents and city government. Listening to neighborhoods, respecting diverse voices, and making sure decisions are made with fairness and transparency are the responsibilities I take most seriously.
When I am mayor, I will make it a priority to keep an open line of communication with every councilor, regardless of political differences. The people of Santa Fe expect us to work together, not against each other. The council should know that when they pass policies, I will carry them out with integrity and transparency, and I will expect the same honesty and accountability in return.
The mayor must also provide leadership by setting a clear vision for the city and inviting the council into that process. Collaboration does not mean everyone agrees on every issue, but it does mean decisions are made openly, with debate, compromise, and a focus on results for the community.
At the same time, the mayor must respect the independence of the council. Councilors represent the voices of their districts, and those perspectives are essential. I believe strong leadership is about listening first, then acting with fairness and balance.
This city is rich with stories that go back centuries. Our traditions, languages, and families are woven together in a way that cannot be found anywhere else. I love that Santa Fe has always been a city of resilience, where people come together to celebrate, to pray, to dance, and to support one another. It is a city where generations stay rooted, passing down values and memories, but also where newcomers are welcomed to become part of the fabric of our community.
I love the backbone of Santa Fe — the workers, families, and seniors who give this city its heart. From our teachers and city employees to the small business owners and community volunteers, the people of Santa Fe are what keep it alive and strong. My memories are tied to those people, and my vision for the future is to make sure they are respected and supported.
The second challenge is infrastructure and city services. Our water and wastewater systems, roads, and public facilities are aging and strained. These are the basics that every resident relies on, yet they have been neglected for too long. Over the next decade, Santa Fe must invest in modern, reliable infrastructure that protects our environment, supports growth, and ensures public health. If we ignore this, the costs — both financial and environmental — will only grow.
The third challenge is trust in government. Too many residents feel city hall is wasteful, top-heavy, and out of touch. Over the next decade, restoring trust will be critical. That means cutting waste, valuing frontline workers, making decisions transparently, and putting people before politics. Without accountability, even the best policies will fail because residents will not believe in them.
When I am mayor, my priority will be to build strong, respectful working relationships with state leaders while standing firm for Santa Fe’s residents. The city and the state must collaborate on issues like water, housing, transportation, mental health, and economic development. These are challenges that do not stop at city limits, and they require cooperation across all levels of government.
At the same time, the city must be clear about its independence and priorities. Partnership does not mean accepting one-size-fits-all solutions from the state. It means advocating for policies and resources that match Santa Fe’s unique culture, history, and needs. I will work to bring more state funding to the capital city while making sure those dollars are spent in ways that truly benefit local families, workers, and seniors.
The ideal relationship is also about accountability. Santa Fe must be a strong voice in state government, not just a host for it. As mayor, I will ensure that Santa Fe gets its fair share of resources, that our concerns are heard in the Roundhouse, and that state agencies respect the city’s role in serving its residents.
When I spoke with Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández, I shared my concern that too many federal and state laws are outdated and failing to keep up with the realities people face. These gaps trickle down to cities and hurt working families, seniors, and small businesses. Whether it is housing, infrastructure, health care, or wages, laws that are not updated in time create roadblocks for city and state governments trying to serve their people. A mayor’s job is to call that out and fight for change.
My priority will be to secure federal funding and programs that support Santa Fe’s most urgent needs: affordable housing, water and wastewater infrastructure, renewable energy, mental health care, and services for veterans, families, and seniors. Federal resources exist, but Santa Fe has not always been aggressive enough in bringing them home. I will work closely with our congressional delegation and federal agencies to ensure that our community gets its fair share.
At the same time, I will protect Santa Fe’s independence. Partnership with the federal government must respect our unique culture, history, and priorities. My leadership will ensure that federal support strengthens our city without compromising who we are.
Law enforcement should be strong, well-trained, and respected — but also sensitive to the people they serve. Public safety is not only about enforcing the law, it is about building relationships. I want to see more officers walking the beat, visible in neighborhoods, talking with residents, and being part of the community. I also want officers engaged with children and youth, including through sports and recreation, like we saw in the past. Those connections build lifelong trust and prevent problems before they start.
Training will be essential. Officers must be prepared in de-escalation, cultural sensitivity, and community engagement so they can respond fairly and respectfully in every situation. At the same time, they deserve support, fair pay, and resources so they can do their jobs with pride and professionalism.
As mayor, I will not allow bullying behavior, but I will stand firmly behind officers who serve honorably. Public safety depends on balance: strong enforcement when necessary, paired with respect, understanding, and a real connection to the community.
I told him, “I know your struggles, and this is why I am running for mayor.” Because the truth is, this is not just his story — it is becoming the story of too many people in Santa Fe. Families, seniors, veterans, and working people are being squeezed out because housing costs keep rising while wages stay flat. I admitted to him that even I have felt the fear of instability and the worry that one day I could face homelessness. That honesty mattered, because his struggle is my struggle, too.
I also told him what I would do about it. When I am mayor, I will take quick and firm action to bring stability back to housing in Santa Fe. That means pushing for rent caps, bringing rents down where possible, and building more public and affordable housing. It means taking back public housing under city control, so that it is run for people, not for profit. And it means standing up to outside companies and corporate landlords who are exploiting our residents and driving our people out of the city they call home.
For me, this was more than just a job — it was about making sure our country was safe. As a young woman from Santa Fe who had been told I might never graduate because of my learning challenges, being part of a national defense project was an enormous responsibility and a source of pride. I knew that the work I was doing mattered. It gave me confidence, taught me accountability, and showed me how important it is to step up and contribute wherever you are needed.
That accomplishment also shaped how I approach leadership today. It taught me that no matter how complex or overwhelming a challenge may seem, you face it by being disciplined, careful, and committed to the mission. It also taught me that real service is not about recognition but about protecting and supporting others, often behind the scenes.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 15, 2025
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