Debbie Jaramillo

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Debbie Jaramillo (b. 1952) was elected mayor of Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1994, after serving six years on the city council. She ran on a platform opposing growth and tourism, the city's largest sources of income. Her campaign slogan was "This city is not for sale," a reference to the tendency of the tourist business in Santa Fe to benefit out-of-state investors. Jobs for local workers in hospitality (tourist) business were largely low-wage and native Santa Feans were priced out of the new affluence. Ms. Jaramillo was especially concerned about the loss of home ownership by members of the community as they lost their property to higher taxes, foreclosure, and expense of maintenance; trailer parks outside the city grew as former homeowners were forced to relocate.

After alienating many of her supporters, she lost reelection in 1998. Political scientists such as Christine Sierra, of the University of New Mexico observed that much of her opposition could be traced to the fact that she championed the citizens of Santa Fe over business owners and land developers, and that she did so as an assertive woman.

In 2004, Jaramillo tried to return to politics as a candidate for municipal judge, but was defeated. In 2005, she was hired by New Mexico as an executive assistant to help develop jobs and job training.