Daniel Recht contended boosting the tourism industry wouldn’t save the county from its woes. Victor Gomez referred to Recht’s sentiment about tourism as “negative” and called for using more hotel-tax revenue to attract visitors. Jerry Muenzer, meanwhile, touted his backing of a tourism business district to fund the efforts.
Those were among the views shared by candidates for District 4 supervisor at the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau’s luncheon forum Thursday. Architect David Huboi asked three questions, with the first one focusing on tourism.
Recht, an accountant, gave the first answer on all three questions.
“Tourism is not going to save this county,” Recht said.
He said it is a revenue generator, but that “by no means are we going to save the county budget” with tourism.
“Now, that being said, what does San Benito County have to offer? A lot,” said Recht, adding how the county should leverage success in neighboring counties.
Gomez, a Hollister councilman, said tourism “isn’t the solution to all of our problems.”
“But I will say, it is one of the pieces to the puzzle,” he said. “So to stand up here and take a negative approach to tourism, I think it’s a bad idea.”
Gomez noted Pinnacles National Park, wineries and Hollister Hills among the “amenities here we can attract folks to.”
Gomez pointed to his recent support on the Hollister council of using all transient occupancy tax revenue – 8 percent – on tourism efforts.
Muenzer underscored his initial proposal to increase the TOT rate from 8 percent to 12 percent, matching the number in San Juan Bautista while approaching San Jose’s 14 percent. He said he would want to use revenue from the increase to promote tourism. He also mentioned the possibility of a “tourism business improvement district” to fund promotion.
“The county is committed to provide seed money to help that process,” said Muenzer, who read his answers from prepared statements.
Next, candidates were asked their views on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, the highly debated form of gas extraction. A group is currently circulating a petition for a ballot measure proposing a countywide ban against fracking and petroleum activities in certain areas of the county.
“I have concerns when it comes to the environmental issues,” Gomez said, naming off water as one category to study. “If those issues can be addressed as things move forward, if the environmental issues can be addressed as well, then I think fracking can have a big economic impact on our community.”
Muenzer reiterated his stance against spending money in countries “that want to see our downfall.” He said he is proud of sitting on a committee that re-wrote the county’s oil ordinance. He said the new rules “build additional safeguards” for water, air and wildlife matters.
He did not provide a stance on fracking, but said he believes the state and residents of California will determine the best way to move forward.
Recht said his view “depends on what we’re doing and how we step forward” on the issue. He said there isn’t “sufficient information” to make a conclusion, and noted how the fracking science currently is being studied at the state level.
“All these things have to be measured,” he said.
Finally, Huboi asked a broader question about challenges facing San Benito County’s progress.
Muenzer talked about his trip to Washington, D.C., to represent the board’s support for making Pinnacles a national park, which happened in January 2013. He said the county must invite outsiders to places like Pinnacles, wineries and San Juan. He mentioned how the board removed growth restrictions and streamlined the planning review process during his four years in office.
“Now we must finish the general plan update,” he said. “This will allow new businesses to take advantage of commercial and industrial zone designations added in.”
Gomez said the county must do more to streamline the planning department’s processes. He said the city has made improvements affecting the customers’ experience. He said so far this year, the city had experienced a 40 percent increase in building permit activity.
He stressed a need to develop along Highway 101 where “tens of thousands of vehicles” drive through the county.
“They have absolutely no reason to get out of their cars and spend their money,” he said.
Recht pointed to San Benito’s proximity to other counties “doing well” with their economies.
“The last four to five years, we’re stagnant,” he said. “It’s not happening.”
He wants to see more targeting of specific types of businesses such as small manufacturers. He said the county has a lot to offer.
“Companies want a quality of life for their employees,” he said.
