Two of five Hollister City Council seats are open in the
November election, and the filing period began this week for
interested candidates.
Two of five Hollister City Council seats are open in the November election, and the filing period began this week for interested candidates.
The open seats include those in District 2, held by Councilwoman Eugenia Sanchez, and District 3, held by Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia.
Valdivia has held her seat for 12 years and has announced she will run for a fourth term on the council. Her district is situated in the south-central portion of the city.
Sanchez is finishing her first term on the council. She has not indicated publicly whether she plans to run again and has not returned phone calls from the Pinnacle or Free Lance in months. Her district includes much of the city’s west side.
Interested residents have until Aug. 6 to submit paperwork and, if they choose, signatures in lieu of filing fees. They must submit at least 20 qualified signatures – from registered voters in the district – while citizens would have an additional five days beyond Aug. 6 if the incumbent does not run, said Geri Johnson, the city clerk.
Besides the nomination form, candidates can submit a candidate statement if they want it published on the sample ballot. They must submit a Form 700, a statement of economic interest. As of Tuesday, two people had pulled papers, Johnson said, but nobody had returned them.
Council members earn $400 per month and receive health benefits, Johnson said.
