With the deadline for pulling papers to run for political office
in San Benito County less than two weeks away, some incumbents are
so far unchallenged while others will face multiple opponents as
they seek to retain their positions in this year’s election.
Hollister – With the deadline for pulling papers to run for political office in San Benito County less than two weeks away, some incumbents are so far unchallenged while others will face multiple opponents as they seek to retain their positions in this year’s election.
Each on the tail end of their first term, county supervisors Pat Loe and Reb Monaco – District 3 and District 4 respectively – will each face competition as they seek reelection for another four-year term.
District 3 includes the City of Hollister, south of South Street, while District 4 is comprised of Tres Pinos and southern San Benito County.
In September, former Supervisor Richard Place announced his intent to run for Loe’s District 3 seat, saying he would focus on economic development, the county’s mounting gang problem and transportation issues.
Loe said that well-planned, orderly growth and development, as well as maintaining an open and fair government, are among her priorities as a current supervisor and as a candidate.
Two months after Loe and Place squared off, Ron Stubblefield, a retired UPS driver and former Hollister planning commissioner, hopped into the race making it a threesome.
Stubblefield said his priority if elected would be to reign in what he sees as wasteful county spending. He also made one of his platforms gang violence.
Local pundits anticipate that Stubblefield’s entrance into the race will split the vote for the June 6 county-wide primary election and force a run-off for the Nov. 7 general election.
Monaco, who announced his bid for reelection in September, had been unopposed until last month when former owner and publisher of the Pinnacle newspaper decided to challenge the incumbent for his District 4 seat. Cone set government transparency, housing, economic growth and gang prevention as her priorities.
“People are fed up with the current state of county government,” Cone wrote in an e-mail. “Citizens are tired of the secrecy, the decisions seemingly made behind closed doors, the lack of communication.”
Monaco said he wants to win another term so he can continue to work on incomplete projects, such as establishing a county park commission to oversee all parks in San Benito.
He also that he, and the board in general, are focusing on economic development, transportation issues and working with the City of Hollister on water and wastewater issues.
The District 4 race got a bit more crowded, but only momentarily, when San Benito County Farm Bureau President Paul Hain pulled papers for Monaco’s seat on Feb. 21. But a day later he pulled out after discussions with potential constituents and political advisors made it evident to him that he could not beat the incumbent.
“I think I’m going to throw my support behind (Monaco) because I think he’s doing a good job,” Hain said.
With Hain’s withdrawal from the race and the filing deadline fast approaching, it seemed that the District 4 race would be a face-off between Monaco and Cone.
But on Wednesday, long-time county Clerk/Auditor/Recorder John Hodges announced that he was entering as a candidate for Monaco’s seat, making it another three-way contest.
Supervisors, however, aren’t the only incumbents with a little competition.
District Attorney John Sarsfield, who has said he will run for reelection though he hasn’t made an official announcement, will face a repeat of the district attorney race that he won in 2002.
Sarsfield will face Deputy District Attorney Candice Hooper and local defense attorney Arthur Cantu, both of whom he beat four years ago.
In 2002, Hooper lost the primary election to Cantu, who ultimately lost to Sarsfield in the general election.
Sarsfield said he will run on his record of focusing on gang and gun crime, as well as the truancy program he established shortly after taking office.
Cantu, who has an endorsement from former District Attorney Harry Damkar, said his No. 1 priority is gang suppression, followed by gang prevention.
Hooper said that she hopes her reputation as a fair prosecutor will win her the District Attorney’s Office. She also said she wants to reestablish a good working relationship with other county departments. Since Sarsfield took up the post, his office has been the epicenter of much controversy.
While the incumbent supervisors and the district attorney are facing competition this year, it is not yet clear whether Sheriff Curtis Hill, who will make another run at being San Benito’s top cop, will have any challengers.
Hollister Mayor Robert Scattini – a former San Benito County sheriff and the current marshal – said he is toying with the idea of running for Hill’s job.
If a person runs unopposed, they will be appointed to the position after the June primary, according to Hodges.
But county offices aren’t the only ones to be on the ballot this year. Hollister City Council seats for Districts 2 and 3 are also up for reelection.
At this point, with the filing deadline for the city council candidates still nearly six months away, the Hollister race is wide open.
Scattini, who holds the District 2 seat, said that he still hasn’t decided whether he’s going to run for the City Council again.
“Right now, I don’t know,” he said. “I’m going to think about it.”
District 2 comprises all of Hollister west of Line Street and south of Buena Vista Road.
District 3 councilwoman Pauline Valdivia said she is seriously considering a run, but also hasn’t yet decided. District 3 is the area of Hollister east of Line Street to Prune Street, and south of Seventh Street.
“I’m seriously thinking about doing it again,” she said.
Her health, however, will be a major factor as she decides whether to run for a third term.
Valdivia was away from the council for several weeks last October when she had a benign tumor surgically removed from her skull.
San Juan Bautista has three City Council seats coming up for reelection, which are currently held by Vice Mayor Priscilla Hill and council members Arturo Medina and Chuck Geiger.
Geiger said that he does plan on running for the San Juan City Council again in 2006, however Medina and Hill did not return phone calls for comment.
Finding ways to save city dollars, coordinating road repairs and improving San Juan Bautista water infrastructure are among Geiger’s priorities.
Luke Roney covers local government and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected].
