Anthony Botelho beat Anthony Freitas with 58.5 percent of the
vote in the run-off race for District 2 supervisor, the only
available seat on the County Board of Supervisors.
Cheers erupted at Botelho’s campaign party Tuesday night as
first results from the absentee ballots came in over the TV,
showing he was in the lead.
Hollister – Anthony Botelho beat Anthony Freitas with 58.5 percent of the vote in the run-off race for District 2 supervisor, the only available seat on the County Board of Supervisors.
Cheers erupted at Botelho’s campaign party Tuesday night as first results from the absentee ballots came in over the TV, showing he was in the lead.
Botelho said he was confident after the showing of the first results, saying “We expected to win.”
Freitas, who got 41.2 percent of the vote, declined to comment on the race Tuesday night, saying he would not say anything until today.
Botelho and Freitas were in a run-off race to take over current Supervisor Ruth Kesler’s soon-to-be vacant seat, both having beaten her in the March election. It was expected to be a very tight race Tuesday night.
“I think it’s going to be as tight as the presidential race,” said Freitas’s wife, Adela early in the evening.
The candidates themselves were very similar in background, both being orchardists who have lived in the San Juan Valley all their lives. They both also served on the county Planning Commission.
“I’m just grateful this day has come,” Botelho said. “I’m grateful to my supporters and my friends who have helped me along in this marathon.”
In his coming term, the first-time supervisor has said his first priority will be helping the county set forth a long-range growth plan. Botelho has also said he will be focusing on ameliorating traffic on Highway 156 and pushing for economic development in the county.
“The first goal I have is I would like a general plan revision that deals with long-term goals set for preservation of agriculture and open space plans in the valley and hillsides,” said Botelho, an apple orchardist from San Juan Bautista. He added the key to growth is a “good, concise plan on how to update our infrastructure.”
Botelho also said he was ready for the other tasks his new position as supervisor will present, including creating new jobs and improving the county budget.
“I want to create jobs in this community where people have an opportunity to live and work in this community. The budget – I think we have some issues on how to provide adequate services to the citizens of our communities. We’ll have to make some hard choices, but I’m up for the challenge,” Botelho said.
Jessica Quandt is a staff writer for the Free Lance. Reach her at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or at jq*****@fr***********.com.
