City Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia became the mayor of Hollister
last night after the new council unanimously voted her into the
position.
Hollister – City Councilwoman Pauline Valdivia became the mayor of Hollister last night after the new council unanimously voted her into the position.
Valdivia has been mayor once before in 1999, during her first term on the City Council.
“It’s been a little while, so I’m a little nervous, but I’m excited,” she said with a laugh.
Valdivia, who is two years into her second four-year term representing Dist. 3, served as vice mayor for the past year under Mayor Tony Bruscia. The council elected Robert Scattini, who is also halfway through his first term, as the new vice mayor last night.
Last Monday, Mayor Bruscia, Tony LoBue, and Brian Conroy turned their seats over to three newly-elected council members. As the only two members left from the previous council, Valdivia and Scattini were shoe-ins for the top positions. The vice mayor is almost always appointed mayor the following year, and new council members are not usually appointed vice mayor in their first year, according to Scattini.
“That’s how it works. Tonight I’ll nominate her (Valdivia) for mayor and she’ll nominate me for vice mayor, and then next year I’ll be mayor and so on,” he explained Monday morning.
The mayor does not have significantly more responsibility than other council members, according to Bruscia and Scattini. In addition to regular council duties, the mayor signs official paperwork, runs meetings and attends events like ribbon cuttings, they said. The vice mayor fills in when the mayor can’t make a meeting or event.
Last night was the first council meeting for new members Monica Johnson of Dist. 5, Doug Emerson of Dist. 4 and Brad Pike of Dist. 1, and voting Valdivia into office was their first official action.
“I haven’t worked with (Valdivia) before, but she’s been on the City Council for six years, which is long enough that I think she’ll do a good job. From what I’ve seen and what I’ve heard, she’ll be a good leader,” Johnson said.
Pike also said Valdivia was the obvious choice for mayor and she’ll shoulder the responsibility well.
“I see Pauline as the cornerstone of the council for now. I think she has the most experience obviously, and she’s a sweet woman with a good head. I’m encouraged by her taking the reins,” he said.
Jessica Quandt covers politics for the Free Lance. Reach her at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or at [email protected].
