Former Hollister Mayor Tony LoBue wants to make something clear:
Regardless of a one-year term in 2002 tarnished by criticism over
his leadership tactics, he refuses to alter his candid nature.
”
I will always tell it like it is,
”
LoBue said.
”
I speak the truth. I will support the things that should be
supported… what’s best for the city. And the things that should
not be supported, I will not.
”
Former Hollister Mayor Tony LoBue wants to make something clear: Regardless of a one-year term in 2002 tarnished by criticism over his leadership tactics, he refuses to alter his candid nature.
“I will always tell it like it is,” LoBue said. “I speak the truth. I will support the things that should be supported… what’s best for the city. And the things that should not be supported, I will not.”
During a City Council meeting Dec. 16, in accordance with the City Code, the five Council members voted for a new mayor and vice mayor. Councilman Brian Conroy replaced LoBue as mayor, and Councilman Tony Bruscia replaced Conroy as vice mayor.
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. Additionally, the mayor appoints committee and commission members.
On Friday, LoBue looked back on his year as Hollister’s top figurehead – 12 months marred by public criticism toward he and Council; 12 months lowlighted by a 15-million gallon sewage spill and numerous related aftereffects; 12 months, in many respects, of undue criticism, according to Lobue.
“There was a lot of things we could have accomplished that didn’t get accomplished,” LoBue said. “We could have gotten a little farther on Highway 25… we could have had no sewage spill.”
On the other hand, LoBue said he stepped down proud of several Council-wide decisions made during the past year.
“I’m proud that we put in place a parks master plan,” he said. “I’m happy we have begun the process on the new fire station. I’m happy that the road impact fees were adjusted for new development.”
And while LoBue admitted the Council made mistakes, he disagreed with the barrage of negative publicity and consequent public dissension in 2002.
LoBue mentioned two outspoken members of the citizens group WATCHDOG – J.J. Vogel and Paul Grannis – and their continuous, outspoken criticism of his actions at City Hall. He also referred to the Pinnacle newspaper, to which Vogel and Grannis often wrote negative letters about LoBue.
“It’s the same group of people who, week in and week out, write on an issue (growth of Hollister) that was basically out of our hands,” LoBue said of WATCHDOG. “I have never voted to build one single home.”
In the Dec. 19 edition of The Pinnacle following the mayoral re-election meeting, an article headlined “LoBue takes last dig” twice referred to LoBue’s actions during the previous meeting as “snide.” That same edition included an editorial cartoon featuring LoBue depicted as a baby dressed in a diaper.
“There’s a bias,” LoBue said. “It mostly stems from a few very vocal people who continue on with the same rhetoric, who don’t see the bigger picture.”
Another issue, often the subject of a citywide negative dialogue, is the tainted relationship of LoBue and Conroy. LoBue doesn’t shy away from their clash of ideals because he said it doesn’t interfere with city business.
He said, historically, it’s not uncommon for members of city government bodies to quarrel. LoBue mentioned a similar rivalry in recent years between Morgan Hill City Council members Hedy Chang and Beverly Freeman.
“You can’t expect to put five people in a room where everybody has the same ideology, and where everyone is forced to get along,” LoBue said. “Two different people have different opinions on different matters.”
Since his election as mayor, Conroy also said the historical disagreements on the Council will not intrude on progress in 2003.
LoBue referred to a pledge he made in his speech as the outgoing mayor and said he won’t look back, and will only forward.
“I will continue to be an active member of this Council,” LoBue said. “I’ll continue to be that way. And I’ll try to be at the forefront of things important to this city.”
