Politics

From a young age, Dan Valcazar has found himself taking on roles that require strong leadership skills ranging from team captain of the wrestling team to part of the top trio of trumpeters for the high school band.

Issues proposed in California’s statewide ballot measures can sometimes be as opaque as they are varied, which is why our reporters decided to wade through the morass to help make voting easier.

Shawn Herrera’s passion for education runs deep because he knows firsthand the profound effect a quality education can have on individuals.

For Elizabeth Zepeda Gonzalez, vying for the San Benito County Board of Education District 1 seat hits close to home. She has watched her younger sister struggle to stay on top of her schoolwork as their home has spotty wifi reception.

For 27 years and six consecutive terms, Mary Anne Filice went unopposed for the San Benito County Board of Education District 1 seat. That has changed with the upcoming election, as two contenders are also vying for the position.

Candidates for Hollister’s mayoral and city council races are largely self-funding their campaigns to win the Nov. 3 election, according to financial activity disclosure forms filed with the city clerk’s office.

Campaign fundraising by local candidates is down to the final stretch as the Nov. 3 election for two San Benito County Supervisors’ seats, two Hollister City Council seats, the mayor’s office and other local races quickly approaches.

Over the next several days, the Hollister Free Lance will profile candidates for local City of Hollister and San Benito County offices that will appear on the Nov. 3 election.

Mora, 44, is ready to take on another big responsibility as he aims to win the race to become the new mayor of Hollister in the Nov. 3 General Election.

Velazquez, who is running for his fourth term in the Nov. 3 election, said one way to “protect” the city is slow growth, which means approving thousands of new homes is not the answer for the future.