Tony LoBue wants another four years as the District 4 City
Councilman to continue working on obstacles and projects from his
first term.
Hollister – Tony LoBue wants another four years as the District 4 City Councilman to continue working on obstacles and projects from his first term.
“We’ve had some challenges in the past four years,” LoBue said. “We’ve had some good changes, some solid changes. And I think that the next four years are going to be a better four years.”
LoBue, a 30-year-old walnut farmer and businessman, emphasizes funding for public safety departments, roads improvements and more managed growth, he said. He said he’s most proud of the city’s funding to fix Highway 25 and his support of the local police and fire departments.
To do those things in the future, though, a city struggling to stay afloat financially must raise more revenues. Budget problems, including a shrinking general fund reserve and enormous costs to fix the sewer system, have plagued the current council.
Most of all, LoBue acknowledged, the city’s biggest problems are those stemming from a 15-million gallon sewer spill in 2002. That’s what caused the state to slap a building moratorium on the city preventing new construction until the new plant is online.
LoBue, like other candidates running for the council Nov. 2, thinks the best way to fix Hollister’s money problems is through economic development in the private sector.
Economic development
LoBue wants to promote more industrial and commercial growth in the next four years.
He follows the philosophical shift in Hollister government that calls for more business growth. He said he’ll support that growth by supporting the Economic Development Corp., a nonprofit mostly funded by the city that recruits new businesses and promotes the county to industrial developers.
LoBue wants to continue enhancing downtown, he said, and took partial credit for the council’s approval of the Downtown Beautification Project, which is nearly complete.
He also heralded the city’s recruitment for a developer to build on the empty 400 block of San Benito Street, which Hollister owns. He sat on a subcommittee that recently selected the developer.
“I think that’s going to be a big boost in our economy and our downtown,” he said.
The proposed casino off Highway 25 is one type of development that may come to fruition during the next four years. LoBue said he hasn’t taken a stance but he’s not ready to support it either. It’s been the most asked question in his door-to-door campaign, he said.
Housing growth
Once the moratorium is lifted, housing expansion, LoBue pointed out, will continue on a pace chosen by voters in 2002. That’s when the public approved Measure U, which restricts Hollister to approving 244 new housing units a year.
He supports that measure, he said. But he believes some level of growth is healthy for all communities.
“I think that a community that doesn’t grow will die, similarly to a business,” LoBue said.
In the past, Hollister councils have approved too many developments that haven’t “paid their fair share” in infrastructure upgrades to the city, he said. When it comes time to approve or deny future developments, LoBue said he’ll fight for parks and roads that those new residents will need.
“Houses really don’t pay for themselves,” LoBue said. “Businesses and sales taxes are the ones that actually pay their fair share for the community.”
Public safety and other services
Another area affected by rapid development is the city’s public safety sector. LoBue, who recently gained endorsements from both the fire and police unions, said those departments remain at the top of his priority list.
“I know police and fire are very important issues to the community,” he said.
LoBue, though, said he is realistic about Hollister’s budget problems. The city faces projected deficits for at least the next four years.
He said the city can barely afford to cut any more services after a round of recent layoffs and other employees’ acceptance of early retirement offers. But if the council has to cut, layoffs to some basic services, such as street sweeping, would likely occur.
“We’re pretty close (to bare bones),” LoBue said. “Right now, we’re running a real tight ship.”
Roads
LoBue said road improvements in particular have been lacking in recent years, largely because of budget shortfalls.
Still, he remains staunch in his support of road construction, especially that on Highway 25, he said.
LoBue has become known for his continual reminders to citizens during council meetings to drive safely on the rural highway. He said he strongly supported the council’s approval of $10 million in Redevelopment Agency funding to help improve safety on the corridor.
LoBue also said one main concern of residents in his district – and other districts, too – is speeding on roadways. He said he supports measures to curb those activities.
Even though the council has been criticized for its management of the budget – and an ensuing drop in city services – LoBue said Hollister’s situation will improve. Hollister, he pointed out, is not alone.
“If a city doesn’t have problems they’re lying to you,” LoBue said. “You go up and down the state, anywhere you go, and you read the newspapers, and every city has its issues.”
