Campaign season is upon us, and there are a slew of seats open for community-minded people who want to make a difference in San Benito County. And, it is a key moment in time where strong leadership can make a valuable contribution.
With the financial problems many governments are trying to weather, there is a need for innovative ideas to keep local governments on the road to improvement – particularly in the city of Hollister, with three open City Council seats.
Hollister faces a multitude of challenges including a $4 million deficit next fiscal year if the City Council can’t get a grip on spending. There also is a sewer moratorium that has strangled the city’s ability to attract commercial development, oversight of the construction of a new sewer plant to overcome the moratorium, police and firefighter staffing issues and the search for a permanent city manager to lead the way.
There is no doubting this community’s genuine concern over the fate of the city. Simply count the letters to the editor about the state of the city over the last year. While the exchange of opinions regarding how the city could improve becomes acrimonious at times, the torrent of words has a common theme: How can we get the city on the road to fiscal health so it can provide the services and quality of life we expect in this community?
We are not looking for candidates who view the City Council as a means to gain public exposure. We’ve seen enough council members who view their role as facilitators for the city manager and are unwilling to challenge the ineffectiveness of policies laid before them.
We’re looking for do-ers, not be-ers. We’re looking for community members who will place the welfare of the community first. We point to Mayor Tony Bruscia as a person who questions budget expenditures, looks for solutions and will take political heat to do what he believes is right.
We suspect there are more volunteers in this community who would make good leaders and hold the city accountable to the higher level of expectation the community is demanding.
We hope these potential candidates do not eliminate themselves from consideration because they have no experience in public office, are intimidated by city procedures and processes, are wary of being in the public spotlight, or are turned off because the Hollister City Council seems to be a male-dominated domain.
If this is the case, we urge you to reconsider.
Yes, the time commitment is large. The pay is insignificant. The job can be frustrating. Council members are challenged with pressure from the unions, constituents and city officials. But the opportunity to change the city of Hollister for the better is enormous.
Raising and meeting expectations in Hollister can happen, but we need good leaders on the City Council who want to serve for the right reasons. If you are this person (or you know this person), we urge you to think about the lasting positive effect a single individual can make.
The filing deadline for the Hollister City Council is Aug. 6 (it will be extended to Aug. 11 in individual districts if one of the three incumbents decides not to run). The seats held by incumbents Bruscia, Tony LoBue and Brian Conroy are open. LoBue will run, Bruscia is undecided and Conroy says he won’t seek another term. We sincerely hope more candidates step forward to answer the community’s call.
To respond to this editorial or comment on this issue, please send or bring letters to Editor, Hollister Free Lance, 350 Sixth St., Hollister, Calif. 95023 e-mail to
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