Monica Johnson, Doug Emerson and Brad Pike took the oath of
office to become the three newest members of the City Council
Monday night as friends, family and outgoing council members
cheered them on.
Hollister – Monica Johnson, Doug Emerson and Brad Pike took the oath of office to become the three newest members of the City Council Monday night as friends, family and outgoing council members cheered them on.
“I’m really honored and humbled to be here,” said Johnson, who represents Dist. 5.
Johnson, the eldest of six children, said she was very excited her mother and brother had been able to fly in from San Diego and Los Angeles for the ceremony. Johnson’s two daughters and her young nephew were also present to cheer her on.
Emerson, of Dist. 4, said he was also honored after Monday night’s ceremony. Even though he had had some second thoughts about running for office, he said he was glad now he decided to follow through, and would make this a positive four years for himself and for the city.
“The other day my barber said to me, ‘You know, you’re a good guy now, but wait about a week,'” Emerson said with a laugh. “But I don’t think there’s anything to worry about. I know we have a lot of problems to deal with, but I’ve had to face a lot of similar ones in San Jose, and I think we’ll be fine,” the former school administrator added.
With his young son Brad Jr. beside him, Pike, of Dist. 1, said he felt “honored and humbled and all the other things you’re supposed to feel,” after taking his oath Monday night.
“I think this is just one of those things where you’re ready for the unexpected, and we are,” he said.
The three new council members took their oath of office after outgoing councilmen Tony LoBue, Brian Conroy and Mayor Tony Bruscia received certificates from Senator Jeff Denham’s office and plaques from councilwoman Pauline Valdivia for their achievements over the last four years.
“I think it’s ironic that there’s a clock on this plaque,” said LoBue after Valdivia gave him his award. “There aren’t any batteries in it, but if there were you could see the second hand ticking. That’s how I feel about the past four years; they went by so quickly. I want to thank the community for allowing me to give you time out of my life.”
Indeed, the past four years have given LoBue, Conroy, Bruscia and the other council members plenty to devote their time to. A 15 million-gallon sewer spill in 2002 and a subsequent building moratorium, the hiring and sudden departure of City Manager Dale Shaddox and his replacement by Clint Quilter and an ailing budget and personnel layoffs all gave the council a “whale of a ride,” Bruscia said.
But there were high points, too.
LoBue said his proudest achievements on the council include the construction of the second fire station, the doubling of the city’s open park space, and his work on the downtown beautification project.
“Those are the three I really pushed the hardest on; probably harder than anyone else,” he said.
LoBue also noted the renovation of the Veterans Building and the recent financial agreement between the city, the county, and developer Award Homes as crowning achievements.
Like LoBue, Conroy said he was also proud of the Vets building and the second fire station, but his proudest moment in his four-year term happened just before he turned his seat over to Emerson. In its final action before swearing in the new council members, the council unanimously approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the city, the county and the San Benito County Water Board setting guidelines for control and management of the city’s ground water.
“For me, that was really the greatest achievement the council has seen. To have three groups sign an MOU that weren’t even speaking to each other when I came into office four years ago is really something to be proud of,” he said.
