When we cast ballots in Santa Fe elections, we decide based upon who we believe will effectively lead our city.

In mayoral candidate Asenath Kepler's case, it's increasingly difficult to decipher where she stands on the issues important to Santa Feans. Nor is it clear why she even wants to be mayor in the first place, given that as city manager, she was fired after only six months. As the campaign moves into its final stretch, both Kepler's positions and leadership capacity remain murky at best.

On issues ranging from the living wage to the privatization of city services, Kepler seems intent on a hedge strategy, in which she shifts her position to suit whichever group she is addressing. She thinks the living wage has been great for Santa Fe — unless of course you don't think so. In that case, she opposes the recent increase that resulted from a consensus of business and charitable groups, and wants the city to pay for yet another $100,000 study re-evaluating whether the policy should continue. There have already been four such studies, all finding that the living wage did not increase unemployment.

She staunchly opposes privatization of city services — unless you support it. Then she admits that she would not discount privatization out of hand when our city workers are incompetent, lazy or whatever.

Do you favor greater investment in affordable housing? Well so does she! Are you against it? Then rest assured, she opposed the successful affordable housing initiatives proposed by Mayor David Coss. Do you believe that our police do an outstanding job protecting Santa Fe residents? She does too! However, she also claims that the police have been completely unable to stop crime, a claim that ignores statistics clearly demonstrating otherwise.

Her plans are fiscally responsible; they will be funded with the unknown savings politicians always cite.

Recent disclosures showed that many of Kepler's top donors are active in Republican and T.E.A. Party politics; she is a longtime registered Republican. But you'd never know it from hearing her pitch. It's an amazing trick. Just let her know what you think, and voilá, she thinks the same thing!

Unfortunately, history warns us that Kepler's agreeability ends as soon as she is in a position where she must collaborate to be effective. As city manager, she displayed a total inability to function in a team environment, causing her professional relationships to disintegrate almost immediately. She skirted procedures, ignored ordinances and forced citizen groups to threaten lawsuits over her controversial land decisions. In the end, Kepler's removal was inevitable given her disregard for professional boundaries.

Kepler's behavior was problematic as city manager. It would be devastating as mayor. Success requires leadership. It requires listening and coalition building. And perhaps most importantly, it requires taking principled stands on issues, rather than simply pandering to whoever is in the room. There are plenty of jobs in which Kepler might be a fit, but mayor of Santa Fe isn't one of them.

Richard Ellenberg is chairman of the Democratic Party of Santa Fe.