Incumbents, new candidates share their thoughts on San
Benito
With a majority of seats on the San Benito County Board of
Supervisors being contested in just four weeks the race includes
reprise matches in two districts and an incumbentless three-way
contest in the third.
Incumbents, new candidates share their thoughts on San Benito
With a majority of seats on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors being contested in just four weeks the race includes reprise matches in two districts and an incumbentless three-way contest in the third.
District 2 offers two candidates with the same first name, but different ideas for the direction the county should head. Anthony Botelho is the incumbent, and Anthony Freitas ran against him four years ago, and opted to take on the challenge again.
In District 5, Jaime De La Cruz, the incumbent is running against Marian Cruz, whose husband De La Cruz narrowly defeated four years ago. Again the candidates bring different experience and thoughts about the job of Supervisor.
District 1 is an open playing field since incumbent Don Marcus opted not to run so that he has more time to spend with his family. The candidates include Margie Barrios, Grant Brians, and Bonnie Flores-Voropaeff, all who would be new on the job come Jan. 1.
The seven candidates offered insight on their experience, the challenges they see facing the county and thoughts on where the Board of Supervisors should be headed.
District 1
Margie Barrios
Age: 59
Marital status/family: Married 39 years, with three children.
Years of residence: 44
Education: A.A. in business from Gavilan College.
Employment: Self-employed, accounting service and a family-owned general engineering/contracting company.
Experience: School board member for the Hollister School District, Board Chair of the YMCA of San Benito County, and former chair for the Community Assistance Network.
Reason for running: Wants to be part of making decisions that will affect residents and the future of San Benito, while promoting economic development and public safety.
Thoughts on El Rancho San Benito: Declined to say how she would vote until she has more information from the comprehensive studies of the effect on local roads, jobs and traffic.
Priorities:
Improve public safety. Develop strong relationships with the district attorney, sheriff’s department, Hollister police, the city of Hollister, schools and other agencies to send the message that San Benito County does not tolerate crime, gangs or drugs.
Attract green industry to the county. Would support the actions of the new economic development person that the county will hire, and encourage developing a fast track for businesses that would like to locate in San Benito County.
Giving San Benito County a voice in Sacramento. Would hold regular quarterly meetings between San Benito politicians and state representatives to ensure the county gets its share of state money.
Endorsements:
South Bay Labor Council
San Benito County Stewardship Council
Curtis Hill, sheriff of San Benito County
Candace Hooper, San Benito County’s district attorney
Top donors:
Bonnie Brae Company, property management. – $1,000
Robert Bianchi, CPA –
$500
The Ranch Company – $300
Ernie Andrade, retired – $300
Lynn Lake – $250
Ron Crates, SBC superintendent of school – $250
A&R Prehung Door, Inc. – $200
San Benito Realty – $200
Jesus Leon, Radiology Dr. Hazel Hawkins – $200
Trinie Martin President, Trini Martin Recycling, Inc.- $200
Louis Rayas, DDS – $200
Grant Brians
Age: 48
Marital status/family: Married 7 years, with three children
Years of residence: 35
Education: B.S. from San Jose State University, in agricultural research and engineering. Continuing education courses in computers, electronics, management, technical support and agriculture
Employment: Self-employed, organic farmer
Experience: Former President of the Sunnyvale stamp society, held elective positions with the California Society of Organic Farmers, and a member of the council for churches attended.
Reason for running: Has extensive knowledge about and experience with the county’s government, history and situation. Wants to use that knowledge to improve services for county residents.
Thoughts on El Rancho San Benito: If he had to vote today, he would vote no. Developers need to convince him that the project would benefit San Benito County economically, and not increase local traffic while driving sales tax to Gilroy.
Priorities:
Fully explore the consequences of board decisions before they are made by looking at the impact of decisions on finances and the community from one week to five years out.
Open communication. Promote communication between the board and the individuals and groups that hope to improve San Benito, not just groups that hope to make money in the county.
Fiscal responsibility. The county is required by law to live within its means, and that means planning ahead for rough patches so that wholesale cuts to programs are not necessary when the county is in a financial crisis.
Endorsements: Not seeking endorsements
Donors: Did not reach the minimum amount required for filing as of the last deadline.
Bonnie Flores-Voropaeff
Age: 56
Marital status/family: Married 5 years, with three children, plus her husband’s four children
Years of residence: 19
Education: Attended Chabot College and Golden Gate University
Employment: Self-employed, co-owner of DLG Printing
Experience: Served on the Board of Hazel Hawkins Hospital, was a board member for the Sacred Heart Foundation, and did community work on the Stay Alive on 25 campaign and Saint Francis Retreat Center fundraising.
Reason for running: Wants to use her skills in marketing and expertise in running a business to help the county board of supervisor take a strong stance on economic development.
Thoughts on El Rancho San Benito: If she had to vote today, she would vote no. Concerned that the project would change the county indefinitely, and unsure about the impact on local traffic and local contractors.
Priorities:
Job development. Would develop incentives for new businesses to move to San Benito by targeting types of businesses that residents want in the county. Would develop a fast track permit process for new businesses and promote tourism to the county by advertising at the state fair.
Work with local high schools to find out what kind of jobs students want and help them obtain those jobs. Students would receive job training and help with job placement.
Local businesses first. Local businesses would be given the opportunity to bid on county projects. To promote existing businesses, would use utility bills as an opportunity to advertise. Businesses would pay associated costs.
Endorsements:
South Bay Labor Council, AFL-CIO
SEIU county and city workers 521
SEIU long-term in home care
Brad Pike, mayor of Hollister
Donors: As of March 17, Flores-Voropaeff’s had donated $890 to her own campaign.
District 2
Anthony Botelho, incumbent
Age: 47
Marital status/family: Married 23 years
Years of residence: 47
Education: B.S. in fruit science from California Polytechnic State University
Employment: Apple farmer
Experience: Current supervisor, former planning commissioner, board member of the San Benito Resource Conservation District, past president of the San Benito County Farm Bureau, and a volunteer firefighter in San Juan Bautista.
Reason for running: Believes members of the board of supervisors have made a lot of progress in the last three and a half years and the county is headed in the right direction. Enjoys working with the current staff and would like the opportunity to build on the progress board member have made.
Thoughts on El Rancho San Benito: If he had to vote today, it would be no. He does not think the project would have a positive impact on San Benito County. To win his vote, DMB staff will have to convince him that the project would benefit the county.
Priorities:
A well-defined general plan. To maintain the character of the county, the general plan must identify areas available for growth, provide for open space and protect agricultural areas.
An economic development plan within the general plan. An economic development element lets businesses know that San Benito County is business friendly. New zoning designations would identify what kinds of businesses are welcome in the county and where they can locate.
A general plan that encourages development in areas with existing infrastructure. Larger developments should utilize existing infrastructure- roads, water facilities and wastewater treatment plants. The cost should be absorbed by the business, not taxpayers. Businesses should prove that they would benefit the county, not the other way around. Provide incentives for not building on prime farmland.
Endorsements:
South Bay Labor Council AFL-CIO
SEIU
Top donors: Botelho’s sole donation was a $10,199 loan from himself to his campaign.
Anthony Freitas
Age: 60
Marital status/family: Married 36 years, with two sons
Years of residence: 60
Education: Attended Gavilan College
Employment: semi-retired, manages orchards
Experience: Four years on the planning commission.
Reason for running: Members of the board of supervisors have not done any work on economic development.
Thoughts on El Rancho San Benito: If he had to vote today, it would be no. Leery about the location. With the project so close to Gilroy, it may have a negative impact on downtown Hollister.
Priorities:
Economic development. Bring in jobs, businesses and light industry. Get a dynamic person as the new economic development manager who will actively solicit business.
Update the general plan consistently. The general plan was not updated for 20 years, which is more expensive and time consuming.
Be a friendlier county for development. New businesses could get incentives such as tax breaks.
Endorsements:
San Benito Stewardship Council
International Union of Operating Engineers
Donors: A $1,000 donation from himself to his campaign.
District 5
Marian Cruz
Age: 69
Marital status/family: Married for 50 years, with three children and one grandchild
Years of residence: 69
Education: B.A. from San Jose State Unversity in Liberal Studies and a credentialed teacher
Employment: retired teacher
Experience: Former city council member for Hollister, vice president of San Benito County LULAC, and a member of the Retired Teacher’s Association. a former board member of the San Benito County Mental Health Advisory Board.
Reason for running: Unhappy with the current performance of the District 5 supervisor.
Thoughts on El Rancho San Benito: Declined to state how she would vote on the project at this time.
Priorities:
Collaborate and negotiate with board of supervisor members and city council members to fix issues of importance to District 5, including concerns about utility bills.
Build trust between citizens and local government by holding quarterly meetings in District 5 to give people a chance to express issues of concern and to keep the community informed about the board’s actions.
Work together with economic development staff for city and county by supporting decisions and actions taken by the economic development staff.
Endorsements:
San Benito County Democratic Central Committee
Top donors:
Berry & Berry, law firm – $1,000
Jane Dabo Cruz – $250
Ruben and Terry Cruz – $125
Planning Commissioner Jose Alvarez and Carolyn Alvarez – $100
If elected, Cruz will donate half of her salary as a supervisor to local nonprofits.
Jaime De La Cruz, incumbent
Age: 42
Marital status/family: Married for 19 years, with three children
Years of residence: 41
Education: B.S. in Finance from San Jose State University and an A.S. in electrical engineering from Heald College
Employment: Member of the Board of Supervisors
Experience: Current supervisor for District 5, served on San Benito County Water District and the Gavilan College Board of Trustees.
Reason for running: De La Cruz is running to improve economic development in the county.
Thoughts on El Rancho San Benito: If he had to vote today, it would be no. El Rancho San Benito could turn Hollister into a ghost town.
Priorities:
To combat gang activity, develop and implement an apprenticeship program for at-risk kids. In partnership with local schools and Gavilan College, kids would receive training in trades, such as carpentry. When a developer or construction company wants to build in the county, they would agree to leave a certain amount of slots for kids from the apprenticeship program.
Finish the general plan with an economic development element. It is important because past projects rarely addressed the issue. The economic development element will be a set of general guidelines that would force new projects in the county to address job creation and whether they would provide revenue for the general fund.
Develop a policy to hire within for county staff. County employees would be trained in the position of their higher ups. Instead of hiring outside the county, when positions become available, existing employees would be ready to take over.
Endorsements:
South Bay Labor Council
San Benito County Stewardship Council
Top donors:
Paul Wattis, Wattis Construction – $3,250
Sandra Wells, Sorrento Properties – $2,000
De La Cruz also received $1,000 donations from:
Bianchi Family Limited Partnership
Clarence Stone, CEG Business Solutions
Corbin
Harley Owners Group
Mission Organics
Paulette Roseberry, Construction Manager, Devcon, Inc.
R & R Labor Service
Tina Bertuccio, retired
True Leaf Farms, LLC
