Despite recent strife between the Board of Supervisors and the
Elections Office, both sides say they want to amicably resolve
scandals involving the March 2 election and get past the public
quarreling that has persisted since.
Despite recent strife between the Board of Supervisors and the Elections Office, both sides say they want to amicably resolve scandals involving the March 2 election and get past the public quarreling that has persisted since.
Most notably, speculation arose that the board might try to transfer authority of the Elections Office from County Clerk John Hodges – who has overseen the process in San Benito for two decades – to the board.
Hodges said the issues facing the Elections Office are too important to continue a rhetoric that has snowballed since the March 2 election. Controversy surrounding the election has included a scandal over the District 5 supervisor’s race and a federal lawsuit against San Benito for lacking minority resources.
“They’re getting tired of, and I’m getting tired of the negativity,” Hodges said. “I would like to try and work with the board to resolve any differences and to go forward.”
Assemblyman Simon Salinas confirmed Friday county officials at one point asked his office to examine how the state could potentially get involved.
“They wanted me to research and look into it,” he said.
Now, that prospect of transferring oversight of local elections to the board seems less likely, according to Hodges and Supervisor Reb Monaco. Supervisors and even Hodges, who has never shied from responding to critics, want to make up and move on, they said.
“I think the board is on exactly the same page (as Hodges). We want to move ahead in a positive direction and rectify the problems,” Monaco said Friday.
Hodges’ 21st year on the job has been his most angst-ridden yet, he has acknowledged. After refereeing the two sides battling over Measure G, the county launched the probe of the District 5 supervisor’s race, a controversy some critics partially blamed on Hodges. His office advised Jaime De La Cruz’s camp to sign a log book when returning absentee ballots for non-relatives, a practice it turns out was illegal.
And two months later, the federal government sued his office for lacking resources for Spanish-speaking voters. Hodges says he needs more resources to meet tighter federal requirements, such as providing ballots in both English and Spanish. Supervisors, mandated by federal orders, are planning to provide whatever is necessary.
Supervisors also recently gave Hodges a tongue lashing because he hired a private lawyer to defend his office in court – over the District 5 issue – without their approval.
County Counsel Karen Forcum, who advises both the board and Hodges on legal matters, also gets the impression both sides want to fix the current problems and make progress, she said.
“I would add to the sentiment that everybody does want to move forward in a positive direction,” she said.
Although she maintained the board didn’t actively pursue taking over authority of Hodges’ office, Forcum said such a move would require passage of state legislation. Salinas and other county officials also confirmed the state would have to approve such a change.
But that might be a moot point now, with Hodges and supervisors saying they are on better terms and want to work together. Supervisor Ruth Kesler also said supervisors won’t be pursuing control of Hodges’ office.
Monaco, meanwhile, said he’s confident in Hodges’ ability to run the office and oversee an election in November the federal government plans to closely watch.
“I have no reason not to feel confident,” Monaco said. “He’s an elected official in charge of the elections.”
