Hollister
– One of the most expensive campaigns in city history is coming
to an end. Supporters and opponents of Measure S, the ballot
initiative sponsored by developer Pulte Homes, said on Tuesday that
they are cautiously optimistic, but both sides anticipate a close
race.
Hollister – One of the most expensive campaigns in city history is coming to an end. Supporters and opponents of Measure S, the ballot initiative sponsored by developer Pulte Homes, said on Tuesday that they are cautiously optimistic, but both sides anticipate a close race.
Yes-on-S Campaign Manager Annette Giacomazzi said that she won’t stop working until the final vote is cast.
“We’re all about getting yes votes,” Giacomazzi said. “That includes reminding people to vote, distributing doorhangers and making ourselves available to answer any questions.”
How significant is this final push? With around one-third of the city’s 15,000 registered voters asking for absentee ballots, many residents may have already cast their vote. In addition, a number of community members have already expressed strong feelings both for and against the measure.
“I still believe there are questions out there,” Giacomazzi said, adding that she encourages anyone with remaining questions or concerns to call the Yes-on-S campaign office at 636-1485.
If passed, Measure S will amend Hollister’s general plan to redesignate 1,300 acres of agricultural land near the municipal airport as a “mixed use residential community.” It will also create an exemption to the 244-unit cap imposed by Measure U; Pulte subsidiary Del Webb would instead be issued up to 650 building permits per year for its proposed Sun City Hollister senior living community.
Both the City Council and the county’s Board of Supervisors passed resolutions opposing the measure, citing concerns about the potential project’s location, its impact on local infrastructure and what some see as the measure’s circumvention of the proper planning process. The measure’s supporters – who include Councilman Brad Pike, Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz and the San Benito Chamber of Commerce – point to the financial benefit of additional tax and fee revenue, as well as an influx of relatively affluent new residents; they also note that passing Measure S does not give the Sun City Hollister project automatic approval.
As of Sept. 30, the Yes-on-S campaign spent around $660,000, making it the most expensive campaign in local history; that spending could be seen in the stream of fliers and DVDs sent to local residents. The anti-Measure S campaign, meanwhile, managed to raise enough money to finance two mailings.
“It’s hard to compete against all that money,” said Councilman Doug Emerson, who authored the City Council resolution against Measure S. “But the people I’ve talked to who have read about it and done their research said they were against it.”
Emerson has gone door-to-door to explain his opposition to the measure, but he said that he hasn’t done any campaigning in the last week.
“What’s done is done,” Emerson said.
Gordon Machado, who organized the No-on-S campaign, also said he won’t be doing anymore campaigning.
“You always sit back and think, ‘Aw, damn it, I should have done this or that,'” Machado said. “But you only do what you can do.”
Both groups will be hosting election night parties. The Yes-on-S campaign will meet at Maverick BBQ; their opponents will gather at Machado’s Rustic Turtle Embroidery Works.
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
