FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aurora for Santa Fe
With August 26 Deadline Approaching, Aurora Martinez Declares Run for City Council, District 2
Santa Fe, NM Aurora Martinez, a lifelong New Mexican, experienced public servant, and managing partner of Noonen-Martinez Consulting Inc., has announced her candidacy for Santa Fe City Council, District 2. Her campaign centers on transparency, cultural stewardship, and economic equity for all Santa Fean’s.
Martinez’s career spans over a decade of service in state government, including roles at CYFD, the New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT), the Department of Military Affairs (DMA), and the Department of Finance and Administration (DFA). She has worked as a child protective services investigator, behavioral health coordinator, grant writer, and data analyst often navigating complex federal regulations and managing multimillion-dollar programs.
“I’ve worked inside the systems that shape people’s lives,” Martinez said. “I’ve seen where they fall short, and I’ve spent years helping agencies and communities meet their goals with integrity and accountability.”
In 2022, her partner launched Noonen-Martinez Consulting Inc., a veteran-owned small business focused on grant writing, compliance, and capacity-building. Martinez joined the firm a year later, bringing her expertise in project development, federal funding, strategic planning, and technical analysis. Together, they’ve helped secure over $460 million in grant funding for projects in veteran care, transportation electrification, and alternative energy. Their work has supported compliance for more than $25 million in state and federal funding, helping communities across New Mexico and beyond meet regulatory and financial standards.
Martinez lives in the house her grandfather built in the early 1950s. Her father and uncles, then small children, dug out the basement to make adobes. Her grandfather was a WWII Army veteran Bronze Star and Purple Heart, European tour. Her father and uncles all served in the Marine Corps; her dad is a Purple Heart recipient and grew up in the house. At the time, this midtown home was considered the outskirts of Santa Fe, a neighborhood rich in history, culture, and resilience. It’s where she and her son have built their life, and where she’s seen firsthand the beauty and burdens that come with living in Santa Fe. She knows what it’s like to stretch every dollar, to navigate public systems, and to fight for dignity in spaces that don’t always offer it.
“I want to bring back the voices of Santa Fe to the people,” Martinez said. “Decisions should reflect our lived experiences, our layered histories, and our shared hopes not just the loudest interests or the biggest budgets.”
Her campaign emphasizes affordability, inclusive governance, and the protection of cultural heritage while celebrating Santa Fe’s layered identities. She has publicly advocated for greater transparency in city funding and the responsible use of public taxpayer dollars. Martinez supports reforms to large-scale public events to ensure they truly benefit local creatives, businesses, and the broader community not just outside interests or inflated budgets.
Martinez also believes Santa Fe can grow without losing its soul.
“We need to preserve true traditions while welcoming diversity and growth,” she said. “Not just the ones that sell well, but the ones that carry our stories, our ancestors, and our dignity. Growth should honor that not erase it.”
Though this is her first run for office, Martinez is no stranger to civic leadership. She currently serves on the City of Santa Fe’s Public Safety Committee, where she advises on public safety policy and budget to promote transparent, community-centered practices. She also served as a Resilient Community Advisory Council Member for United Way from 2023 to 2024, helping direct grant funding to grassroots organizations advancing food sovereignty, economic resilience, and equity. Martinez is known for her bridge-building approach, working alongside community members to promote inclusive policy and cultural recognition.
“I’m not running to represent just one district I’m running to fight for all of Santa Fe,” she said. “For families who feel unheard, for elders whose stories deserve protection, for workers who keep this city running but can’t afford to live here. I want to bring transparency, accountability, and compassion to City Hall. I am not a politician I am a neighbor who’s lived the struggle and believes in our power to shape a future rooted in justice, tradition, and shared benefit for Santa Fe as a whole.”