Newcomers replaced three prominent and longtime county officials
Monday, as a crowded board chambers welcomed in the new officials
and other returning officials. Supervisors Jerry Muenzer and Robert
Rivas replaced two-term Supervisors Reb Monaco and Pat Loe,
respectively, and Sheriff Darren Thompson took over for Curtis
Hill, who was the county’s sheriff for the past 12 years.
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With a few words and a signing of a paper Monday afternoon, change officially took place in San Benito County.
Newcomers replaced three prominent and longtime county officials Monday, as a crowded board chambers welcomed in the new officials and other returning officials.
Supervisors Jerry Muenzer and Robert Rivas replaced two-term Supervisors Reb Monaco and Pat Loe, respectively, and Sheriff Darren Thompson took over for Curtis Hill, who was the county’s sheriff for the past 12 years.
Thompson donned the green and gold for the first time, and his wife, Natalie, pinned the sheriff’s badge on him to finalize the short five-minute presentation, presided over by Judge Steven Sanders.
“We have something to celebrate, a fresh start, a new hope and this year in particular we celebrate a group of persons willing to serve their community,” Sanders said. “Some faces are new to the offices they’re about to enter; some are familiar faces willing to renew their commitment to serve.
“And so it is with great joy and gratitude that I have the honor to administer the oath of office to these folks.”
The new and old officials, including the re-elected Joe Paul Gonzalez, Candice Hooper, Mike Sanchez, Mary Lou Andrade and Tom Slavich, were there to take their oaths of office for clerk/auditor/recorder, district attorney, superintendent of schools and treasurer, respectively.
Some focus was pointed toward the new sheriff, Thompson, as Hill gave a short speech presenting the office’s shield to Thompson.
“It’s a great honor to be able to hold the office of the sheriff,” Hill said. “I held this office for 12 years and today is the day of the new sheriff being sworn in.”
Calling Thompson’s wife to the front, Hill gave her the badge to present it to Thompson. The large crowd stood and gave Thompson and the other officials a loud applause.
Afterward, the new officials beamed with excitement.
“I’m very excited and ready to get down,” Muenzer said. “We have some issues, mainly the budget, that we will have to address.”
The large crowd and interest surprised Muenzer, he admitted.
“I was blown away by how many people showed up to this,” Muenzer said. “It’s really exciting that so many people care about community.”
For Rivas, he expressed excitement to get started and bring new ideas to the county.
“As a board, I’m looking forward to hopefully bringing those talents and skill sets that I have through education and experience to really make something positive happen here in San Benito County,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it.”
The day continued for Thompson as the sheriff’s office celebrated his swearing in at a full Granada Theatre in front of other public safety officers, and friends and family.
Both Hill and former Watsonville Police Chief Terry Medina welcomed Thompson to the sheriff’s office, giving him pointers on how to succeed.
Medina, who was Thompson’s chief for 22 years in Watsonville, opened up about his time with Thompson, and about the his time in Watsonville.
Medina said that Thompson worried him during parades because of how he rode the department’s motorcycles. Thompson was enamored with the motorcycle and doing tricks on it.
“Off goes the motorcycle down the street, Darren Thompson standing on the pedals, on the boards, standing up, no hands on the handle bars,” Medina said. “Mind you there are little kids on both sides of the street – if you’re the police chief or the sheriff you’re thinking this guy is a maniac.”
Gathering a loud applause, Medina was thankful the sheriff’s office didn’t have a motorcycle; instead Thompson has to practice riding a horse, he said.
Hill was a little more serious, calling the job the best in the world.
“Being the sheriff is an honor,” Hill said.
Thompson remained excited but cautiously optimistic about the future, he said.
“We have many challenges ahead of us,” Thompson said. “We have to dig deeper to continue to provide the same level of service to the community. We have to work selflessly to serve this great community.”
Thompson received a standing ovation from the audience.
