Politics

The San Benito County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau has rated Ignacio Velazquez with the most "stars" as a candidate for mayor and also supports Measure E, the proposed extension to the 1 percent sales tax in Hollister, according to an announcement made this week.

San Benito County supervisors will hold a special meeting in closed session at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday to appoint an interim county administrative officer and to discuss recruitment of a permanent county administrative officer.

The San Benito County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau hosted a “speed campaign” event to test mayoral candidates at their monthly “Lunch with Leaders” event Wednesday.

Blake Lebeck constructed the controversial political display outside his east Morgan Hill home not to offend minorities or promote racism as some passersby have suggested, but to draw attention to the perils the country faces if President Barack Obama wins re-election in the Nov. 6 election.

The following are links to profiles published Friday on the four candidates for Hollister mayor:

Marty Richman, 70, has long been a fixture at Hollister City Council and San Benito County board meetings. But if he wins his run for the inaugural mayoral race Nov. 6, he will be at the meetings in an official capacity for the first time.

Ignacio Velazquez wants to bring a business-like approach to Hollister government and remove barriers to help encourage new commerce here.

Keith Snow may be a relative newcomer to Hollister, but he has the desire to be a leader “for the people.”

Doug Emerson, 68, is a two-term Hollister city councilman who is running in the first elected mayor's race on Nov. 6.