De La Cruz touts record in seeking third term
Jaime De La Cruz is seeking a third, four-year term on the board of supervisors – and believes he has earned voters’ trust the past four years in particular.
De La Cruz, 47, is facing challenger Sonny Flores in Tuesday’s election. He pointed to such accomplishments as approving the Solargen project, keeping the library open, approving the Santana Ranch development on Fairview Road, renovating the John Z. Hernandez Park, creating McCarthy Park and getting lights installed at Buena Vista Road and Highway 156.
De La Cruz, a fiscal officer for West Coast Rubber Recycling, acknowledged there will have to be more cuts ahead, after years of pain in the employee ranks. The county is facing a $5.5 million deficit next fiscal year.
He said he knows how departments work and that Flores lacks government experience.
“If you bring on someone new,” De La Cruz said, “it’s going to take almost three or four years to know what’s going on.”
Supervisors continue facing a tense situation with the county fire contract – with the board leaning toward a one-year extension with Calfire instead of contracting with Hollister. De La Cruz favored the Hollister deal in a 3-2 minority. He said he hopes all of the involved parties can be at the table moving forward.
“I honestly believe we need to move forward with partnerships,” he said.
Supervisors have been focused on such budget matters and have considered 30 layoffs for next fiscal year.
“Everyone needs to come to the table and say, ‘How can we pitch in?’” he said.
He went on: “County business as it used to happen isn’t going to happen anymore.”
Forming new tax districts has been broached in recent months, including for the library.
“I don’t support closing the library,” he stressed, as it is in the “heart of my district.”
As for special districts, he said the county needs to “explore all options” and he supports letting voters decide on such matters.
To get the economy going, he said supervisors have relaxed rules and developed a new general plan for zoning changes.
On the Highway 156 project, he said he supports it, noting nearly $50 million in state funding involved.
“It’s a valuable tool in terms of how San Benito County’s going to grow,” he said.
Flores says it is time for change in District 5
Sonny Flores believes it is time for change in District 5.
He is challenging Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz for the seat. Flores, 33, touted his experience as a water district board member (member since 2004 and president since 2011), a seven-year stint on the county Water Resources Association board and an array of nonprofit work.
Flores, a property manager and maintenance supervisor for Community Services Development Corp. in Hollister, said his main goals are to improve the economy, manage the budget and protect public safety.
As for the recent move toward extending with Calfire for a year over contracting with Hollister, Flores said he did not know if it was the right move.
“I don’t have enough information to say it is the right direction or not,” he said. “It’s important to take a look at any areas that can be consolidated.”
With saving money as a focus, he wants to develop a study to recognize best areas to cut in the budget and gain new revenues.
“Let’s do a study. Let’s find out where we can save,” he said.
Like De La Cruz, a priority for Flores is keeping the library open, with fewer resources available for children. Officials have talked of forming a new tax district to fund the library.
“I would need a little more information,” he said regarding such tax districts.
Flores said it is important to work with business owners and nonprofits to rejuvenate the economy and promote San Benito to outsiders.
“We need to take a look at policies also and find out what can be changed in order to do business,” he said.
One major economic issue is the proposed expansion of Highway 156. Flores said “that’s a hard one” and noted it took him 20 minutes recently to drive from San Juan Bautista to Hollister. He said the last time he saw the Caltrans highway expansion proposal – seven years ago while on the water board – it seemed like a “super highway.”
“We need to work to improve the existing highway,” he said.
He added he doesn’t know all the details about proposals for roundabouts on the highway.
“The four lanes at the time,” Flores recalled, while the state has broached building six lanes in more recent years, “I think it’s excessive for the area.”
