District 3 supervisor candidate succumbs to heart attack
Ron Stubblefield, a retired United Parcel Service driver and
20-year Hollister resident, died May 22 in the middle of a campaign
for District 3 County Supervisor. He was 56.
District 3 supervisor candidate succumbs to heart attack
Ron Stubblefield, a retired United Parcel Service driver and 20-year Hollister resident, died May 22 in the middle of a campaign for District 3 County Supervisor. He was 56.
Paramedics responded to a 911 call at 1:47 p.m. at Stubblefield’s residence, where he had complained of shortness of breath. He was rushed to Hazel Hawkins Hospital, where emergency room staff were unable to revive him. He died at 2:38 p.m.
An autopsy performed May 24 revealed that Stubblefield died of natural causes, a heart attack, according to the Deputy-Coroner. An autopsy was performed because he had not been under the care of a doctor for a heart condition.
A former planning commissioner, Stubblefield saw the future growth of the county, increasing gang problems and the need to be more business friendly as the top issues facing San Benito.
“We need to keep our eyes on it,” Stubblefield said of growth in an interview with The Pinnacle two weeks before he died. “We need to watch who we let in or don’t.”
The candidate believed the supervisors needed to rein in their budgetary spending, as well. With his guiding hand, he envisioned a San Benito County that would balance agriculture and industry, establish a strong tourism base and become a place for seniors to retire.
Stubblefield, who had no prior medical problems, spent much of his campaign time knocking on doors of the residents in District 3 and asking them about their concerns for the county. He referred to his campaign as “grassroots.”
A fixture at County Supervisor meetings as a spectator, Stubblefield acknowledged that he would be willing to put as much time as needed into being a supervisor “as long as the lawn’s mowed and I’ve got some time in my woodshop.”
Although Stubblefield has died, votes cast for him will still be counted in the election, according to Assistant County Clerk/Recorder Lillian Pereira. With just 15 days left before the June 6 election when Stubblefield died, the elections office must print Stubblefield’s name as a viable candidate for the office, according to election code. If Stubblefield wins a majority of the votes, he would be considered the winner of the election. The office would, however, remain vacant at the beginning of the term and the California Governor would appoint a supervisor.
The elections office had not received many absentee ballots as of May 24, the most likely group to cast a ballot without knowing about the death of the candidate.
It is unclear what would happen if Stubblefield were to place second in the vote, pushing the final election for District 3 to the November general election.
A San Benito County candidate has not died past the deadline to remove a candidate’s name from the race since 1982.
Stubblefield served four years in the United States Air Force. He studied business and real estate at Cabrillo College in Aptos. He is survived by his wife, Vivian, three children and six grandchildren.
