No offense against just about every council member who has
served in the one-year rotations as Hollister’s figurehead leader,
but it’s far overdue to install an at-large mayor elected by the
entire city who’s more accountable and can act, when needed, as the
city’s supreme voice.
Council members made good decision
No offense against just about every council member who has served in the one-year rotations as Hollister’s figurehead leader, but it’s far overdue to install an at-large mayor elected by the entire city who’s more accountable and can act, when needed, as the city’s supreme voice.
Hollister City Council members made the right call this week by directing staff to study what would be involved with the switch and how it would affect the makeup at the top level of city government. The idea is nothing new, considering every similar city surrounding Hollister has moved away from the antiquated system used here and installed an at-large mayor.
Group gets credit for pushing idea
But with the help of local residents in the New Urbanism Committee – who recently have pushed for the proposal and spoke in favor of it at Monday’s meeting – there now seems to be a political will to get it done.
Hollister’s government is run by the five council members who elect a mayor each year and traditionally rotate who gets the job, which is largely ceremonial and primarily involves acting as chairperson at meetings.
The city’s neighbors up Highway 101, Gilroy and Morgan Hill, have shown that a system with an at-large mayor has, indeed, created more accountability and given outsiders a clear view of who’s heading the cities and with whom to speak about important ideas, such as new industry or development.
There’s plenty to hash over before such a proposal can reach a ballot in Hollister. Officials must decide whether to keep the same number of council members – five – or reduce it to four with an at-large mayor who also has voting power on the council. They also have to choose whether it’s paid as a part-time or full-time position.
Mayor should be paid small amount
While the job undoubtedly would demand a tremendous time commitment, we urge the council to not only pursue the ballot measure, but also propose to pay the mayor about the same as other nearby communities – which is not much more than council members make. Because this job must be about one thing – devotion – and the city simply can’t afford a full-time salary.
City Manager Clint Quilter would continue running the same day-to-day operations, and council members would maintain their same powers.
But an at-large mayor is needed because the entire city should have a say on who speaks for Hollister, and the community must improve its ability to communicate with outsiders and upgrade the level of accountability for a job with such a prominent title.
