Hollister
– Still clueless about next month’s election? The San Benito
County Farm Bureau hopes to help you get informed at two
candidates’ forums today and Thursday at the Hollister City Council
chambers.
Hollister – Still clueless about next month’s election? The San Benito County Farm Bureau hopes to help you get informed at two candidates’ forums today and Thursday at the Hollister City Council chambers.
Candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives, the State Assembly, the County Board of Supervisors and the Hollister and San Juan Bautista City Council have agreed to attend, as have speakers for and against the Pulte Homes-sponsored Measure S.
Farm Bureau Executive Director Nancy Griffin said the bureau has been hosting forums for the past 20 years; the forums were originally co-hosted with the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce.
“The purpose was to just let local people know who was running,” Griffin said.
Tonight’s forum will feature ballot measures and candidates for supervisor, U.S. congressman, state assembly and school board.
Hollister residents will vote on three initiatives on Nov. 7. City Clerk Geri Johnson will speak in favor of Measure O, which would turn the office of city treasurer into an appointed position. Measure R, which would add 1 percent to the city’s sales tax, will be promoted by local architect David Huboi, who is heading the Yes-on-R campaign. And Michael Serpa, Bay Area Brand Manager for Del Webb, will speak in favor of Measure S, while City Councilman Doug Emerson will argue against it. If passed, the measure would amend the city’s general plan and create an exemption to the development cap imposed by Measure U in order to redesignate land for a Del Webb retirement community of up to 4,400 homes.
San Juan Bautista Mayor Dan Reed will talk about why residents of his city should vote yes on Measure P and Measure Q. These measures will, respectively, turn the offices of City Clerk and City Treasurer into positions that are appointed by the City Council.
Advocates and opponents of ballot measures will have two minutes to make a campaign statement.
A number of candidates will also get a chance to make their case to voters tonight, including State Assembly District 28 candidates Anna Caballero and Ignacio Velazquez; Sam Farr, who’s running for re-election in U.S. Representative District 17 against Anthony R. De Maio; and Tracie Cone and incumbent Reb Monaco, who are competing for County Supervisor District 4. These candidates will make three-minute opening statements, answer two questions for two minutes each and make one-minute closing statements.
According to Griffin, the questions were created by a Farm Bureau committee.
“For each race, we will have the same questions for each candidate in the race,” she said.
School board candidates will also appear tonight; these candidates are competing to represent school districts including Aromas-San Juan, North County Joint Union, San Benito High School and Gavilan Community College – Trustee Area 3. School board candidates will be limited to two-minute campaign statements.
Thursday night’s forum will feature Hollister City Council candidate Eugenia Sanchez; San Juan Bautista City Council candidates Jim Pereyra and Charles “Chuck” Geiger; San Benito County Water District 4 candidates Bob Swanson, Rick Giacomazzi and Larry Cattran; and Tres Pinos Water District candidates Robert Frusetta and Edward Schmidt. All of the candidates appearing Thursday will have to answer two questions, as well as making opening and closing statements.
Although Hollister Mayor Robert Scattini is listed on the bureau’s roster for Thursday, he actually plans to attend a meeting of the San Benito Council of Governments which begins at 6pm. Scattini, who is running against Sanchez, said voters should support him because of his experience with the Council – he said he’s attended every meeting for the past four years.
“I have a working knowledge of how the city works and where it’s going,” Scattini said. He added, “If it’s not broken, why fix it?”
Sanchez, who is an elementary school teacher in Gilroy and a member of the Hollister School District Board of Trustees, said that if elected, she will bring a fresh perspective to the Council.
“I see myself as a key to a new beginning,” Sanchez said.
The forums will begin at 6:30pm on both days. They will also be televised.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566, ext. 330 or ah*@fr***********.com.
