Political newcomer Roy Sims has outlasted Tim Burns for a Hollister council seat.
The District 4 seat was the only contested council race outside of the mayoral race.
Burns is a former City of Hollister code enforcement officer who now works for Monterey County. Sims is information technology director for the county office of education.
The latest, unofficial results released at 2:42 a.m. showed Sims with a cushion of 53.8 percent to 45.7 percent, or 946 to 804 votes.
Sims will replace Councilman Victor Gomez, who was elected in 2008 and re-elected in 2012. Gomez decided not to run for council this year, leaving a contested open seat.
In a previous interview with the Free Lance, both candidates stated they support Measure W, the city’s 20-year extension of a 1 percent sales tax. However, the candidates had different opinions on the Hollister Independence Rally motorcycle event.
“I’m not sure it’s family oriented enough to really have a signature event attached to it,” Burns said in an interview earlier this year.
When asked the same question, Sims said he believes city leaders should capitalize on events that bring tourists to the region.
“I think the event can be done well,” Sims said. “I think it can continue to get better. We need to stop having so many discussions to have it or not. I think we need to make a decision.”
