San Benito County Supervisorial District 3 is unique. The only
district wholly within an urban area, this central Hollister
district is defined by its established homes, and its population
dominated by longtime Hollister residents. Incumbent Supervisor Pat
Loe is uniquely qualified to continue ably representing District 3
and the rest of San Benito County.
San Benito County Supervisorial District 3 is unique. The only district wholly within an urban area, this central Hollister district is defined by its established homes, and its population dominated by longtime Hollister residents. Incumbent Supervisor Pat Loe is uniquely qualified to continue ably representing District 3 and the rest of San Benito County.
Loe, like so many of her constituents, is a longtime resident of her district. She has watched San Benito County grow and change. But Loe has guided Hollister and the county through those changes as a city council member, planning commissioner, supervisor and activist for more than 30 years.
Richard Place and Ron Stubblefield both make clear their devotion to San Benito County. Place, in particular, has clearly spent a great deal of time studying the county and its issues to come up with effective plans for our future. In the areas of economic development and job production, whoever is elected to the Board of Supervisors would be wise to seek Place’s counsel.
But in the end, Loe’s record of effectiveness and her ability to build consensus made her the unanimous choice of The Pinnacle editorial board.
As the composition of the board has evolved since she took office three-and-a-half years ago, Loe has found herself as a member of a loose majority and as a frequent minority of one. In either case, she remained effective and retained the respect of her colleagues. Her commitment to understanding the viewpoints of others has led her to take a stand when necessary without alienating those with differing opinions. The editorial board agreed that Loe’s perspective provides a moderating influence among all five supervisors.
Loe is the board’s leading authority on transportation issues. As the Bay Area continues to grow into this once-rural county, her knowledge and background in transportation make her an invaluable asset to the board.
Loe pushed hard for a county ethics committee – a stance we support. As board chair, she sought to open the county budget process completely to the public. As the county continues to raid reserves to balance its budget, the time is ripe for full public disclosure.
Loe, a longtime resident, remembers Hollister when it was a town of fewer than 7,000 people. Like many in her downtown district, she fondly recalls the Hollister of then, and feels the effect of some of the poor planning decisions that took place as Hollister grew.
But Loe cannot be described as anti-growth. She quickly acknowledges the role San Benito County must play as part of the Bay Area. She brings with her a unique vision for her unique district, which includes a vibrant downtown and a vital economy. But her thoughtful approach ensures that those of us already here will not pay a heavy price to accommodate the needs of neighbors yet to come.
For a generation, voters in San Benito County recognized that Pat Loe embodies much of the essence of this very special place. She clearly loves this place, and she’s changed it – for the better – with a unique brand of gentle persistence.
