The annual re-shuffle of Hollister’s mayoral duties takes place
at tonight’s City Council meeting, and all signs indicate
Councilman Brian Conroy will replace Mayor Tony LoBue.
The annual re-shuffle of Hollister’s mayoral duties takes place at tonight’s City Council meeting, and all signs indicate Councilman Brian Conroy will replace Mayor Tony LoBue.
Conroy is currently vice mayor and tradition holds that one year in that position means a subsequent year as mayor. However, the rule is not etched in stone, so all Council members are eligible candidates. The five members of Council will make the selection.
At the meeting, the city will present a plaque to LoBue, who commented Friday on his year as mayor.
“I think we had some really challenging issues over the past year,” LoBue said.
LoBue referred to the sewage spill, the cease-and-desist order on all new sewer connections and building permits and several retirements within the city.
“I think in the upcoming year, we’re going to have some challenging issues to follow through on,” LoBue said. “Selecting the right person to do that is more important than doing the right thing.”
City code requires the mayoral rotation at the second City Council meeting after election night, which took place Nov. 5.
Councilman Robert Scattini is the newest member and took part in his first meeting Dec. 9. Scattini is the most unlikely of candidates for mayor this time around.
Although three years ago, with no experience as vice mayor and only one year on Council, Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia gained the needed votes and served a one-year term as mayor.
City Manager George Lewis said he expected Conroy to gain the necessary votes tonight.
“The normal assumption is that Brian (Conroy) will be,” Lewis said. “I haven’t heard anything else is going to happen.”
Conroy acknowledged the high likelihood of his election as mayor. Conroy said if he was elected, he would look forward to the job’s added challenges and working with the Council.
“The next two years are critical and will affect Hollister for years to come,” Conroy said.
The mayor of Hollister does not hold added power over other Council members. He or she oversees meetings and typically acts as spokesperson for the city, Lewis said.
Additionally, the mayor appoints committee and commission members, which occurs in January this year.
If elected, Conroy said he would work in a professional manner, treating everyone on Council equally. If that scenario plays out – and with the rotating manner of the two leadership roles – Councilman Tony Bruscia is a likely candidate to replace Conroy as vice mayor.
With five members on Council, LoBue is just departing as mayor, Scattini is viewed as too fresh to the City Hall scene and Valdivia just served as mayor two years ago. That leaves Bruscia, who said he would gladly fulfill the duties of vice mayor.
The vice mayor runs meetings in the mayor’s absence and sometimes makes public appearances when the mayor is unavailable.
“It’s a nice honor to be the mayor of the city,” Bruscia said.
Bruscia recognized the job does not hold added power and, moreover, it is just a matter of representing the city. Valdivia said holding the mayor post requires more task-orientation.
“You look at the mayor for leadership,” Valdivia said.
Regardless of who is seated as mayor, Valdivia said all Council members should support each other. She agreed with Conroy that the coming years are crucial for Council.
“I’m looking at a really good four years and getting out of our little slump,” Valdivia said.
