Politics

Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez recently announced he will attend a 10-day trip to China that is funded by a nonprofit Silicon Valley organization working to facilitate business connections.

In taking up a non-agendized issue Monday, Hollister council members violated the state open meetings law by straying off the scheduled topic and engaging in open discussions when the agenda merely mentioned receiving a presentation, according to the legal counsel for the state newspaper association.

District 4 Hollister Councilman Victor Gomez announced he will seek a third, four-year term.

Three county residents are running unopposed for seats on the five-member San Benito County Board of Education.

Two residents have filed for candidacy to succeed District 1 Supervisor Margie Barrios, who is not seeking a third, four-year term. With Barrios declining to run as the incumbent, the normal Friday filing deadline is extended until Wednesday.

The Hollister City Council on Monday will hear a presentation on road-repair needs and a traffic impact fee study to pay for them.

Hollister District 2 Councilwoman Mickie Solorio Luna invites community members to an Open House at the Hollister Community Center on March 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to learn updates about what’s happing in west Hollister.

Southside School District trustees voted unanimously in favor of appointing a candidate to a vacant spot on their board and seeking a special election if no one came forward, according to a district administrator.

Consumers of Aetna Health Insurance in San Benito County haven’t been able to use those plans at Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital since the start of the year due to a contract dispute.

Developers will have to pay more toward upkeep of roads starting in a couple of months.