Council appoints Friend as mayor, Scattini as vice mayor

Hollister council members Monday appointed Ray Friend as mayor and Robert Scattini as vice mayor.
Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia wrapped up her year as mayor of Hollister. Council members traditionally rotate in the role from year to year, with each of the five officials generally getting a chance in the position.
The council in past years has elected the prior year’s vice mayor as the incoming mayor. The vice mayor this past year was Friend.
Council members were unanimous in electing Friend to the mayor role – the main difference from other council members being that he will chair meetings and is expected to represent the city at certain functions. Council members also were unanimous in choosing Scattini as vice mayor, but it came after they collectively denied another choice.
After Councilman Victor Gomez made a motion to appoint Councilman Doug Emerson as vice mayor, the motion died because it lacked a second from other members.
The decision to appoint a mayor comes months before Hollister voters in June will decide whether they want to elect an at-large mayor.