It’s been a turbulent three-plus years for the trio of
first-term City Councilmen
– Mayor Tony Bruscia, Brian Conroy and Tony LoBue.
It’s been a turbulent three-plus years for the trio of first-term City Councilmen – Mayor Tony Bruscia, Brian Conroy and Tony LoBue.
First, controversy erupted over the 677-home Award Homes development. Then a 15-million gallon sewer spill, a state-ordered building moratorium, a financial crisis, a layoff of 36 city employees, the possibility of losing the city’s foremost tradition and the abrupt retirement of a highly respected city manager.
Yet, that barrage of challenges hasn’t scared them away from considering another run. This week, at least one, Conroy, said he’ll pursue re-election in November.
And three months before the deadline for candidates to pull nomination documents, a handful of potential challengers to the incumbents have surfaced.
One of them, in Conroy’s district, is Brad Pike. In recent years, Pike has waded in the local political scene as founder of the “Stay Alive on 25 campaign.” And former Councilman Richard Boomer may challenge Bruscia.
The other two councilmen aren’t as clear on their intentions. But LoBue said he’s leaning toward pursuing another term. Bruscia said he hasn’t decided either way.
Bruscia, the District 5 Councilman, said he’ll probably wait until the Aug. 6 deadline approaches before publicly announcing his intentions.
In 2000, Bruscia narrowly defeated Kurt Wiegard by a 4-percent margin.
“I’m not sure what I’m going to do. I really don’t know,” Bruscia said.
Bruscia, 35, said his busy personal life and career as an insurance broker may prevent him from seeking another term.
But he said the head-pounding issues of the past three years serve as motivation – not a deterrent – in favor of giving it another shot.
The ongoing challenges “make it hard to not want to run again,” Bruscia said. Plus, he said he’s much more qualified than three years ago.
“What the city really needs is someone who knows what they’re doing,” Bruscia said, “not someone to learn all over again.”
Boomer, who served on the council from 1992 to 2000, has considered challenging Bruscia. It is unclear at this point – though Bruscia has heard rumors of other potential challengers – whether any other candidates will seek the District 5 seat.
Boomer, 57, this week said his decision depends on: “pretty much, who’s running.” If there’s another candidate he likes, Boomer said he won’t run.
Conroy, the District 1 Councilman, said he heavily weighed his options before recently concluding he’ll run again.
In 2000, Conroy ran unopposed.
“You want to see some of the things you’ve started carried forward,” Conroy said.
Conroy, 46, acknowledged, “It’s been one problem after another.” But he believes some historical headaches have subsided, such as relations between city and county officials.
“I am very able to work with everybody,” he said.
This time, Conroy may have a stiff challenge from Pike, the Saratoga fire captain who founded the “Stay Alive on 25.” That safety campaign surfaced after a string of deadly accidents on Highway 25 a few years ago.
Pike said “it’s pretty definite” he’s going to run.
“I want to make sure I’ve got all the bases covered. I’m 90 percent sure,” said Pike, 45. “I do want to serve the community.”
In District 4, LoBue, 29, said he has learned a lot of patience over the past three years. He’s gained some gray hairs and weight, too, he said.
“The good is, you have the ability to offer your input in representing the people in the City of Hollister,” LoBue said. “The bad thing is, you make a lot of friends, and you lose a lot of friends.”
Regarding the plethora of problems through his term, LoBue said every city has its fair share of challenges.
“I’ve learned that you have to make the difficult decisions on these controversial issues,” he said. “And sometimes you’re not going to be popular for it.”
In 2000, LoBue defeated Paul Grannis by a 51 to 31 percent margin. It is unclear whether anyone intends to challenge LoBue.
