The Nov. 2 election is in 13 days, and it’s time to start paying
close attention to a host of candidates and issues that will affect
our way of life. In Hollister, there are three council seats up for
grabs. There are races for seats on the San Benito High School
Board and the Hollister School District. In the county, there are
races for numerous school boards from the Anzar Unified School
District down to the Tres Pi
ños board. There is a race for the District 2 supervisor seat
between Anthony Botelho and Anthony Freitas. And San Juan Bautista
has council seats up for grabs.
The Nov. 2 election is in 13 days, and it’s time to start paying close attention to a host of candidates and issues that will affect our way of life. In Hollister, there are three council seats up for grabs. There are races for seats on the San Benito High School Board and the Hollister School District. In the county, there are races for numerous school boards from the Anzar Unified School District down to the Tres Piños board. There is a race for the District 2 supervisor seat between Anthony Botelho and Anthony Freitas. And San Juan Bautista has council seats up for grabs.
Then, there are a number of state propositions that will have local impact. Proposition 1A would keep the state from grabbing local money, something that has compounded the financial troubles local cities have had in recent years. Proposition 66 would loosen the Three Strikes laws, which has local law enforcement officials worried. Propositions 68 and 70 would expand gaming regulations and slot machines – of interest since there is a proposal to build a casino on Highway 25.
It seems like a bewildering number of important issues to get a handle on. But there are resources out there to give people a hand. The Free Lance is running profiles on local council races and the supervisor race this week. Stories about local school races are available at www.freelancenews.com. On Thursday, the San Benito County Chamber of Commerce will host a forum at the Hollister City Hall Chambers from 7-9pm that will give voters insight into their candidates for council, school board and supervisor. And, visiting www.smartvoter.org on the Web is a good way to bone up on the propositions in a half hour.
San Benito County has gone through a lot of turmoil in recent years – from a sewer moratorium and a financial crisis that led to layoffs in Hollister to a failed growth control measure and election controversy in county government. Now is the time to decide whether to stay the course or go in a new direction.
There’s a lot of material to digest. But there are important decisions to make and resources out there to help. Devote some time in the next 13 days to learning about the issues. Then vote on Nov. 2 From any angle, this election season is vitally important.
