With an upcoming election that will fill a seat on the board of
supervisors, two on the Hollister City Council and the open
sheriff’s position, the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce held
its second
”
Speed Campaign
”
event of the election year Thursday in front of a crowded dining
hall at San Juan Oaks Golf Club.
With an upcoming election that will fill a seat on the board of supervisors, two on the Hollister City Council and the open sheriff’s position, the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce held its second “Speed Campaign” event of the election year Thursday in front of a crowded dining hall at San Juan Oaks Golf Club.
With the campaign season winding down – it’s less than a month before the general election – the event was one of the last times people could hear directly from the candidates.
The two-hour event gathered 10 local politicians and allowed them to share their campaigns’ talking points to nearly 100 local business leaders and other residents. Candidates included both sheriff candidates, Watsonville police Lt. Darren Thompson and San Benito County Undersheriff Pat Turturici; four people running for the Gavilan Community College Board of Trustees including Elvira Zaragoza-Robinson, Anthony Ruiz, Eleanor Villarreal, Kent Child and Walter Glines; along with the two candidates for District 4 supervisor, Phil Fortino and Jerry Muenzer.
City Councilwomen Pauline Valdivia was the only candidate present among five running for city council, while she is vying for reelection in District 3.
Valdivia’ s opposition in District 3, Scott McPhail, and the three candidates from District 2 were not at the event. One District 2 candidate, Estevan Guzman, was scheduled to speak but he did not show. The other two District 2 candidates are Robert Scattini and Sergio Montanez.
The second Speed Campaign event was slightly different than its predecessor before the June primary. After lunch, each candidate was given four minutes to give a short speech that introduced the audience members to the candidate. After everyone spoke, each candidate sat at a separate table – there were 12 altogether – and people were allowed to wander the room and ask questions.
In the race for sheriff
The sheriff candidates focused on their previous experiences during their four minutes.
Thompson started his speech by underscoring, in jest, how he is a resident of San Benito County.
“I want to dispel any rumors. I want to tell the truth. I live here,” he said. “Those that are blessed to have lived here for so many years – we are envious.”
Nearly half of his speech focused on his family’s past involvement with the community – including working with the historic mining town New Idria and the San Juan Bautista Mission. But quickly, he shifted his thoughts to his beginning days working in Watsonville during its peak with 1980s gang activity.
“It was a perfect storm of a lot of activity,” he said, “but a tremendous amount of experience.”
Turturici paced behind the podium with a raised voice – pronouncing that he would protect the city from the influx of gangs.
“Growing up in San Benito County, I can remember … never locking the doors,” he said. “Those days are over, and we need to lock up our homes.”
Turturici mentioned gangs from neighboring cities and warned that they are making their way here.
“They are going to end up here in San Benito County,” he proclaimed.
Turturici said he believes his experience in handling the department’s current budget and living in the county for his entire life would make him a better choice for the position.
“I have the experience and I promise you that I will do my best job, and you know you can count on me,” he said.
For Supervisor District 4
Both District 4 supervisorial candidates, meanwhile, shifted to the economy, and talked about bringing in new jobs and bigger businesses to help combat the county’s budget woes. That district largely covers southern San Benito County.
“My focus is to create jobs,” Fortino said. “As a county we have an anti-business culture and that needs to change.”
Muenzer believes the answer could be working with Hollister’s government representatives, he said.
“Jobs are important, very important, but we have other issues with the city and county under financial restraints,” he said. “The city and county need to work together.”
Muenzer mentioned that he believes the community college should also be in downtown – helping to save local businesses in the area.
“Everything needs to be looked at,” he said. “I feel I can work with other people in the county … I firmly believe that we will come up with ways to save money.”
Fortino also said he believes he could be at the forefront for change in the county.
“I’m that guy that is going to take the leadership role,” he said.
Speaking of Gavilan
With the most candidates at the event of any local race, a lot of the attention was turned to the two open seats for the Gavilan Community College Board of Trustees.
The four candidates running for the Hollister seat focused on locations for classroom expansion and the budget that is losing steam because of the state’s misfortunes.
Hollister resident Anthony Ruiz was stern in his words for the location of campus activities in the area.
“I’m not going to yield because it needs to be in Hollister,” he said.
Ruiz also called for change with the school.
“Now is time for change – a lot of change,” he said. “What we have isn’t enough.”
Villarreal openly worried about the state cutting the school’s budget for the benefit of the University of California colleges and state schools.
“More money is going to the state and UCs in California – that’s great but the money is coming from community colleges, high schools and elementary schools,” she said. “I’m very concerned how the state budget will affect us.”
Despite the cuts, incumbents focused on what the school was doing.
Incumbent Childs said the school was “laying the foundation for expansion” and officials needed to build off that.
“We are in a stable financial situation,” he said. “The school is good, potentially great.”
Zaragoza-Robinson called for more transparency when it comes to the school’s financial numbers, she said.
“I want everyone to know where your money is going,” she said.
But Zaragoza-Robinson wanted to keep the focus on the students, she said.
“Let’s prepare our students for careers and jobs of the future,” she said.
Glines also focused on the positive aspects of the school, calling for a showcase of what it brings to the community.
“Gavilan is a unique place, and I believe I can make it better,” he said.
Running for Hollister council
Valdivia was the only city council candidate at the event, while she talked about the budget problems of the past few years. Her district is much of the south side of Hollister. District 2 represents the west side.
“You adjust – you live inside the box. If you leave the box you get into trouble,” she said.
She also mentioned a need to bring in more businesses and jobs to the city to help spark “economic development.”
“We need to take care of this now – there isn’t enough money in this community,” she said.
Candidates for the San Juan Bautista City Council also were invited, but none of them spoke at the event.
