Alan M. Webber (born September 18, 1948) is an American entrepreneur, author, publisher, and politician serving as the 43rd
mayor
In many countries, a mayor is the highest-ranking official in a municipal government such as that of a city or a town. Worldwide, there is a wide variance in local laws and customs regarding the powers and responsibilities of a mayor as well ...
of
Santa Fe, New Mexico, since 2018. Webber succeeded
Javier Gonzales. Considered a progressive Democrat, he supports
social liberalism
Social liberalism (german: Sozialliberalismus, es, socioliberalismo, nl, Sociaalliberalisme), also known as new liberalism in the United Kingdom, modern liberalism, or simply liberalism in the contemporary United States, left-liberalism ...
.
Previous to his assumption of the mayoralty, he ran unsuccessfully for
Governor of New Mexico
, insignia = Seal of the Governor of New Mexico.svg
, insigniasize = 110px
, insigniacaption = Seal of the Governor
, image = File:Michelle Lujan Grisham 2021.jpg
, imagesize = 200px
, alt =
, incumbent = Michelle Lujan Grisham
, inc ...
as a member of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
during the
2014 primary elections. Webber is also known for founding the technology business magazine, ''
Fast Company
''Fast Company'' is a monthly American business magazine published in print and online that focuses on technology, business, and design. It publishes six print issues per year.
History
''Fast Company'' was launched in November 1995 by Alan Web ...
'' in 1995.
Early life and education
Webber's father was a camera salesman.
Webber started school at DeMun School in
Clayton, Missouri, and later attended
Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School. He went on to graduate from
Amherst College with a
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four year ...
in English. While an employee of
Harvard Business School, Webber worked with faculty on ''Changing Alliances'', a book-length study of the competitiveness of the U.S. auto industry.
Career
After graduating from Amherst, Webber moved to
Portland, Oregon
Portland (, ) is a port city in the Pacific Northwest and the list of cities in Oregon, largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon. Situated at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, Columbia rivers, Portland is ...
where he worked at a start-up political journal, ''The Oregon Times''.
Subsequently, he served in the office of then-Portland City Council member
Neil Goldschmidt
Neil Edward Goldschmidt (born June 16, 1940) is an American businessman and Democratic politician from the state of Oregon who held local, state and federal offices over three decades. After serving as the United States Secretary of Transportat ...
and continued as his administrative assistant and policy advisor when he became mayor of Portland in 1972. The years Webber spent working alongside Goldschmidt resulted in Webber identifying Goldschmidt as his dear friend and mentor.
Beginning in 1978, Webber served as editorial page editor of the alternative Oregon weekly newspaper, ''
Willamette Week
''Willamette Week'' (''WW'') is an alternative weekly newspaper and a website published in Portland, Oregon, United States, since 1974. It features reports on local news, politics, sports, business, and culture.
History
Early history
''Willame ...
'', where he received an Oregon State Newspaper Publisher’s Association Award for news and feature writing.
In 1980, Webber and his family moved to
Washington, D.C.
)
, image_skyline =
, image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, when Goldschmidt was named Secretary of Transportation in the
Carter administration. While working as Special Assistant to the
Secretary of Transportation
A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a wh ...
, Webber worked on the
Chrysler Corporation bailout, the crisis in the U.S. auto industry, and overall national economic competitiveness issues.
Webber worked at the
Harvard Business School in 1981 as a senior research assistant and project coordinator on the auto industry in the United States. The project culminated in a book called ''Changing Alliances''.
He went on to serve for six years as managing editor and editorial director of the ''Harvard Business Review'',
during which time the publication was twice named a finalist for National Magazine Awards.
In 1995, Webber co-founded the technology business magazine, ''Fast Company'', where he was named Adweek's Editor of the Year in 1999.
In 2000, investors sold ''Fast Company'' for $360 million, which was at the time the second highest price ever paid for a U.S. magazine.
Webber worked as a speechwriter and policy advisor for several governors, including Massachusetts Governor (and later Democratic Presidential candidate)
Michael Dukakis
Michael Stanley Dukakis (; born November 3, 1933) is an American retired lawyer and politician who served as governor of Massachusetts from 1975 to 1979 and again from 1983 to 1991. He is the longest-serving governor in Massachusetts history a ...
.
Since 2010 he has been a member of the Academic Advisory Board of the Upper Austrian Think Tank Academia Superior – Institute for Future Studies.
Politics
In October 2013, Webber declared his candidacy for the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to:
*Democratic Party (United States)
Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to:
Active parties Africa
*Botswana Democratic Party
*Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea
*Gabonese Democratic Party
*Demo ...
nomination for
governor of New Mexico
, insignia = Seal of the Governor of New Mexico.svg
, insigniasize = 110px
, insigniacaption = Seal of the Governor
, image = File:Michelle Lujan Grisham 2021.jpg
, imagesize = 200px
, alt =
, incumbent = Michelle Lujan Grisham
, inc ...
in the
2014 New Mexico gubernatorial election. Webber finished in second place, with 22.6% of the vote, trailing
Gary King, who received 35% of the vote.
In 2018, Webber ran for
mayor of Santa Fe, as the
incumbent
The incumbent is the current holder of an office or position, usually in relation to an election. In an election for president, the incumbent is the person holding or acting in the office of president before the election, whether seeking re-ele ...
,
Javier Gonzales, was not seeking reelection. In an election using
ranked choice voting, Webber prevailed, defeating three members of the
city council
A municipal council is the legislative body of a municipality or local government area. Depending on the location and classification of the municipality it may be known as a city council, town council, town board, community council, rural counc ...
and a member of the school board. He was the first choice on 39% of ballots, but ended up with 66% of the vote after the fourth round of the runoff.
Publications
* (co-author) ''Changing Alliances - The Harvard Business School Project On The Auto Industry And The American Economy'', 1987,
* (co-author) ''Going Global'', 1996,
* ''Rules of Thumb: 52 Truths for Winning at Business Without Losing Your Self'', 2009, paperback ed. 2010
* ''The Global Detective'', 2010, Kindle eBook
* (co-author) ''Life Reimagined: Discovering Your New Life Possibilities'', 2013,
He has also written columns and articles for ''The Los Angeles Times'', ''The New York Times'', ''U.S.A. Today'', ''Huffington Post'', ''The New York Times Sunday Magazine'' and ''The Washington Post''. ''Life Reimagined'' was featured in ''Forbes'' as one of "The Best New Books For Your Career".
Awards and recognition
Webber received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the
Boston Architectural College
Boston Architectural College, also known as The BAC, is New England's largest private college of spatial design. It offers first-professional bachelor's and master's degrees in architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture, and ...
.
Personal life
Webber married Frances Diemoz, an architect and furniture maker, in 1977. In 2003, they moved to
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
. They have two children.
References
External links
“Alan Webber joins race for New Mexico governor.” Santa Fe New Mexican, October 28, 2013campaign websiteNovember 2013 interview on Insight New Mexico
{{DEFAULTSORT:Webber, Alan
1948 births
Mayors of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Amherst College alumni
Businesspeople from New Mexico
Living people
New Mexico Democrats
Politicians from St. Louis