By the time the last ballot was counted and the results passed
across the counter of the San Benito County Elections Office
Tuesday night, one mandate rang crystal clear.
The people had spoken, and they had asked for change on the
Hollister City Council.
By the time the last ballot was counted and the results passed across the counter of the San Benito County Elections Office Tuesday night, one mandate rang crystal clear.
The people had spoken, and they had asked for change on the Hollister City Council.
While incumbents Tony Bruscia and Tony LoBue likely are still smarting from the sometimes fickle will of public opinion, they must remember the difficult decisions they made and challenges they faced during their tenure on the council. Though making the unpopular decisions is often necessary when serving the public, it is not guaranteed to earn re-election.
So with the end of the election we welcome Brad Pike, Doug Emerson and Monica Johnson to their new leadership roles in our city government. We have high hopes the new council members can steer this city through the troubled waters ahead. It will be a challenge, as the timeline to build a new sewer plant grows shorter – and the local economy suffers as the result of a building moratorium – and the city looks for ways to shore up its ailing city budget.
There’s proven leadership in the three new council members – all in their own unique way. Pike brings tenacity to see a job through as evidenced by the Stay Alive on 25 campaign, which made significant safety improvements to the dangerous roadway. Johnson possesses the organizational and managerial skills she’s learned by managing a large staff for Kaiser Permanente. And, Emerson has the analytical sense of an accountant developed from his years of experience with the East Side High School Unified District in San Jose.
With the sewer moratorium and budget problems still looming, the new board members have their work cut out for them. All have unique ideas to bring to the table and hopefully can draw upon the experience of the current council members. Hollister is at a crossroad as the city struggles to define itself against its current challenges and mistakes of the past.
As we see it, the City Council must focus on developing local business to increase city revenues. To do that, our sewer problems must be solved immediately. Pike has faith in encouraging business to utilize the “sleeping giant” in the Hollister Airport. Emerson promises to use his financial expertise to analyze and improve the city’s budget, and promises to reach out to the community. Johnson understands the management role the council must play to guide city staff and hold them accountable. It’s a good team with plenty of promise and no shortage of ideas to improve the city.
We’ll miss Bruscia and LoBue at City Council meetings and we cannot deny the sacrifice they, and anyone else who volunteers for public service, have made to help the city. For that we sincerely offer our gratitude, but it is time to look toward the future and, at least for now, it appears bright.
It’s time for the new council members to roll up their sleeves and get to work – it is, after all, deeds, not words, that get the job done.
