About Oscar Salazar Rodríguez
Currently, I am the Chief Financial Officer for the New Mexico Finance Authority, where I help contribute to the mission of strengthening New Mexico communities by providing low-cost financing for public infrastructure and local economic development.
In this capacity, I oversee a $211 million budget and $3.5 billion in assets – the kind of skills and experience our city hall needs today.
Heritage
As a truck driver and a homemaker, my parents raised me, my five siblings, and two uncles in a three-room house in the Permian Basin, sacrificing so we would have opportunities they never had.
I was the first in my family to go to college, earning degrees from Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where I received an MA in Urban Studies with an emphasis in City Management. I used that education to pursue a career in helping build stronger, healthier communities in large and small cities like Austin, TX (Assistant City Manager), Washington, DC (Director of Innovation and Reform), Taos, NM (City Manager) and our own City of Santa Fe, NM (Finance Director).
Early Career
As an expert in city management, I also travelled the world consulting with international development organizations like the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank in countries as diverse as South Africa, Sri Lanka and almost every country in Latin America where my fluency in Spanish was especially helpful. My extensive career in local government all over the world allows me to say with certainty that cities perform better when led by professionally trained and experienced city leaders.
“I’m the proud father of three beautiful young women – one who just graduated from medical school and is starting a residency in Albuquerque, one who is the mother of two beautiful granddaughters in Boston, and one who is on her way to high school in Santa Fe.
Santa Fe is my home, and I will stay here for the rest of my life.“
– Oscar
Professional Experience
- Chief Financial Officer, New Mexico Finance Authority, 2016–Present
- Finance Director, City of Santa Fe, 2014–2016
- Consultant, New Mexico Department of Indian Affairs, 2014
- Town Manager, Town of Taos, 2012–2014
- Consultant, US Federal Government, 2009–2012
- Executive Director, Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, 2007–2009
- Director of Innovation and Reform, District of Columbia, 2005-2007
- International Municipal Services Consultant, 1996–2005
- Assistant City Manager, City of Austin, TX, 1992–1996
Community Service
- New Mexico American Civil Liberties Union Board of Directors, Treasurer (on leave)
- Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation Board of Directors, Treasurer, 2018 – current
- Big Bend Conservation Alliance Board of Directors, 2019 – current
- Native American Advised Fund Board Member, 2019 -current
- Lipan Apache Tribal Council, ex officio, 2012 – 2019
- Santa Fe School District Audit Committee, 2018-2022
Professional Legacy
Back in the United States, I continued to pursue a career in helping build stronger, healthier communities by improving city services in, among others, Austin, TX (Assistant City Manager), Washington, DC (Director of Innovation and Reform), Taos, NM (City Manager) and our own City of Santa Fe, NM (Finance Director).
I am proud to report that everywhere I’ve worked I’ve been able to significantly improve management and results in every department, and financial audits were always completed on time.
My extensive career in local government allows me to say with certainty that cities perform better when led by professionally trained and experienced city leaders.