Politics

Hollister Councilman Karson Klauer removed himself from the city’s marijuana ad hoc committee because he said he was spending too much time on it. The council at last week’s meeting accepted his resignation from the panel, and this week approved Mayor Ignacio Velazquez to replace him.

Democratic candidate Jimmy Panetta won the District 20 congressional seat on Tuesday.

The City of Hollister’s budget continues to gradually balloon. Hollister council members Monday adopted the city budget for Fiscal Year 2017/18. Budget study sessions were previously held earlier this month. Administrative Services Director Brett Miller told council members the general fund budget is  $22,104,872 and the expenditures...

Assemblyman Luis Alejo lauded the governor's budget plan in a statement released Friday, particularly $57.1 million toward implementation of the legislator's bill allowing driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants.

San Benito County supervisors Tuesday are scheduled to elect a chairman to serve for the next year.

For the second time in recent weeks, San Benito County Board Chairman Jaime De La Cruz on Tuesday had to remind his colleague, Supervisor Anthony Botelho, to refrain from comments about his campaign for reelection while in the middle of a public meeting.

Both sides of the Measure E sales tax argument pointed to its potential impact on economic development. Proponents contended that with fewer resources, it would drive away new businesses. The most vocal opponent argued that a lower sales tax would benefit small businesses, and that the city should get out of the economic development business altogether.