The New Mexican is beginning its endorsements for the Santa Fe City Council. Today, our choices in the races for Districts 1 and 2. Tomorrow, we will endorse in Districts 3 and 4, and on Wednesday, discuss the municipal bonds. With only one incumbent running for re-election, the council could see as many as four new faces come March -- whatever voters decide, change is in the air.

We urge city voters to read about the issues, meet the candidates and make their choices. Our coverage is available at www.santafenewmexican.co/CityElection2012. To decide on these endorsements, we attended candidates' forums and interviewed each candidate individually. To make a decision on the bonds, we interviewed city officials, talked to citizens and assessed city needs. As always, the final say belongs to the voters come March 6. Early voting, by the way, has begun and is available until March 2 at the office of the City Clerk, room 215, 200 Lincoln Ave. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

District 1

Patti Bushee first began serving on the City Council when her opponent was 8 years old. She's been a public servant for Santa Fe for 18 years. While we welcome the youth and passion of her challenger, from what we have seen during this campaign, Bushee is hardly losing steam. In fact, she seems more energized than ever to serve the people of her district and of Santa Fe. With her door-to-door and neighborhood-meeting style of campaign, Bushee has taken time to find out what is on the voters' minds.

What's more, we believe that her experience and knowledge of the issues are an asset the current council needs right now. Whether discussing water conservation, the city's bike and walking trails, how best to pay for additional police and fire protection, she is informed and factual in her approach. She also is a councilor who likes the business of the public done in public, and isn't afraid to call out anyone who prefers meeting behind closed doors.

We endorse keeping Patti Bushee on the Santa Fe City Council. And we also expect to see more of her opponent, and are pleased to see young people involved in politics.

District 2

Our choice in District 2 was a difficult one, because of the quality of candidates in this race. We endorse Peter Ives for several reasons. As an attorney, Ives is conditioned to doing research, gathering facts and learning to see all sides of an issue before going ahead. Those same attorney's skills make him someone who can make a decision, a useful skill for a deliberative body that at some point must take a vote yet often seems to revisit the same debate without taking a stand and moving on.

Ives has a rich background in conservation work as in-house counsel for the Trust for Public Land. He understands water issues, supports clean energy and over his
30-plus years in Santa Fe, has put down roots. Two daughters are graduates of St. Michael's High School, while a son is enrolled at The University of New Mexico. His wife, Patricia Salazar Ives, is also a local attorney. He brings other skills as well -- board work for the DNA-People's Legal Services and the New Mexico Academy of Healing Arts, as well as singing at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, Schola Cantorum and the Sangre de Cristo Chorale.

A thoughtful, intelligent candidate, Peter Ives would bring depth and knowledge of the issues -- and of Santa Fe -- to his work on the council.