Meet with Mike: Meet one-on-one with Mayor Michael J. Garcia.
Mayor Garcia invites community members to meet with him during scheduled one-on-one constituent meetings.
These meetings will provide residents with an opportunity to share ideas, ask questions, and discuss issues directly with the mayor. Mayor Garcia will host these meetings monthly at rotating locations throughout the city.
Mayor Garcia’s First 100 Days
Mayor Michael J. Garcia marked his first 100 days in office with progress on housing, infrastructure, public safety, and government transparency—alongside new efforts to strengthen regional collaboration and community engagement.
Explore key accomplishments and ongoing initiatives shaping Santa Fe’s future.
Michael J. Garcia
Mayor
Mayor Michel J. Garcia was born and raised in Santa Fe. He was raised with a core value of service to others. Before being elected mayor, he served as the City Councilor for District 2 on the Santa Fe Governing Body, where he was first elected in 2019 and reelected to a second term, representing his community with a focus on responsive and community-centered leadership. His election as Mayor of Santa Fe is the continuation of a public service career that began as an AmeriCorps VISTA member and has now spanned nearly two decades. Throughout his career, Mayor Garcia has focused on providing critical services to community members most in need. It is a great honor for him to serve the community of Santa Fe that helped shape him into the individual he is today.
Mayor Garcia graduated from the University of New Mexico with a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in public administration. A priority of his administration is ensuring that the community’s voice is always heard and fully represented. In his free time, Mayor Garcia enjoys spending quality time with his wife, three children, and the family dog.
Mayor Michael J. Garcia
200 Lincoln Ave
P.O. Box 909
Santa Fe, NM 87504
Proclamations by the Mayor
Below are official proclamations from City of Santa Fe Mayor Michael J. Garcia, recognizing important events, initiatives, and community contributions.
PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, the aesthetic beauty and wonder of a natural night sky is a shared heritage of all humankind; and
WHEREAS, the experience of standing under a starry night sky inspires feelings of wonder and awe, fostering a growing interest in science and nature, particularly among young people and visitors from outside the local communities; and
WHEREAS, light pollution has well-documented economic and environmental consequences, resulting in significant impacts on the ecology and human health of all communities; and
WHEREAS, 80 percent of the world's population, including many residents of Santa Fe, lives under a dome of light pollution—excessive artificial lighting at night that disrupts natural darkness—and may never experience the visual wonder or ecological and health benefits of living under a dark sky; and
WHEREAS, light pollution represents a waste of natural resources amounting to roughly $3 billion per year in wasted energy in the United States and contributes to diminished energy security; and
WHEREAS, astronomy—which is hindered and endangered by excessive light pollution—represents a statewide capital investment of more than $1.3 billion and an annual economic return of over $25 million, while supporting more than 150,000 jobs through the aerospace and defense sector; and
WHEREAS, Santa Fe Stargazers is a group of Santa Fe area residents who share a passion for observing the day and night sky—whether by the naked eye, binoculars, or telescope—and who meet regularly to observe as a group, share their passion with the public, increase knowledge and appreciation of astronomy, and advocate for dark skies so that all may enjoy the beauty of the heavens; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico is internationally recognized for its dark sky tourism, attracting visitors to its nine DarkSky International-certified International Dark Sky Places; and
WHEREAS, the 1999 New Mexico Night Sky Protection Act was enacted to regulate outdoor night lighting fixtures, preserve and enhance the state's dark skies, while promote safety, conserve energy and preserve the environment for astronomy; and
WHEREAS, DarkSky International, the globally recognized authority on light pollution, along with its New Mexico chapter, New Mexico Darksky, recognizes International Dark-Sky Week to raise awareness of the effects of light pollution, provide education and resources, and encourage the protection and enjoyment of dark skies through responsible outdoor lighting.
Now, Therefore, I, Michael J. Garcia, Mayor of the City of Santa Fe, New Mexico, do hereby declare April 13–20, 2026, as INTERNATIONAL DARK SKY WEEK