As a committee of local voters continues to collect signatures for a ballot measure to recall Supervisor Kollin Kosmicki, a recent campaign statement shows a significant contribution from a pro-business political entity based in San Jose.
Silicon Valley Biz PAC on June 12 contributed $10,000 to the recall committee, titled “Committee to Recall Supervisor Kollin” on the filing known as a Form 460. Silicon Valley Biz PAC has been associated with former Hollister Mayor Victor Gomez, who now runs a local consulting company and has recently lobbied for a battery storage facility and other new development proposals in San Benito County.
Gomez did not reply to multiple requests for comment. He has been identified in recent news reports as the executive director of Silicon Valley Biz PAC—including a May 2026 story from San Jose Spotlight about contributions to the campaigns of San Jose City Council candidates.
Silicon Valley Biz PAC’s website says, “We aim to make Silicon Valley the best region in the country to start and grow a local business. We’re the only Silicon Valley-based political action committee focused exclusively on improving the business climate for small and medium enterprises, and the only one 100% founded and run by local business people.”
The Form 460 is one of many forms that political campaigns are required under California law to file with local and state election officials.
The recall committee’s latest Form 460, filed with the San Benito County Registrar’s office on July 29, also lists outstanding expenditures of $18,495 for legal expenses. Of that sum, $1,500 is owed to Bell, McAndrews and Hiltachk Attorneys; and $16,995 is owed to Benbrook Law Group.
Recall committee Treasurer Stacie McGrady said the legal expenses are for litigation in local superior court and the defense of challenges to the group’s official paperwork.
“I am grateful for any donations that come forward to help defray those costs,” McGrady said.
While the contribution from Silicon Valley Biz PAC has fed suspicions from Kosmicki and other observers that recent recall efforts have been led by pro-development interests, McGrady suggested that’s not such a bad thing.
“It’s unfortunate that all developers have been painted to be some bad, evil ‘Voldemort,’” McGrady said. “If you want to enjoy your Dutch Brothers coffee, you should thank a developer for bringing that to the community. If you live in a home (or) if your kids go to an elementary school you probably need to thank a developer for that.”
She added, “If we want to bring jobs into the community we’re going to have to work with developers.”
Kosmicki, who represents District 2 on the board, said he is concerned that some in the development industry have become involved in politics only to influence or advance their personal business endeavors.
“We’ve known all along these special interests are behind these recalls, and they are trying to silence anybody who speaks out against their projects or stands in the way of irresponsible development,” Kosmicki said.
A recent successful recall of former Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez prompted a similar refrain by Velazquez and his supporters. That recall, which was on the June 2 ballot, was supported by McGrady and others who now seek to remove Kosmicki from office.
Gomez is President of Pinnacle Strategy, a local consulting firm that specializes in public relations, government affairs, land use consulting, political strategy and legislative advocacy, according to the company’s website.
He is also a registered lobbyist in San Benito County. In recent months, he has lobbied on behalf of Massachusetts-based Longroad Energy, which has proposed a solar and battery storage facility north of the Hollister Airport. That project is on hold while the county enforces a local moratorium on battery storage facilities.
Gomez has lobbied for a developer who has proposed an affordable housing project on Bridge Road; a proposal known as the Hollister Research Campus; and a commercial project proposed by Bottom Line Group at the corner of Fairview Road and Highway 156, for a new gas station and market, according to the lobbyist filings posted to the county’s website.
McGrady said her committee is still collecting signatures to place a Kosmicki recall question on an upcoming ballot (after the Nov. 3 election).
The committee has to collect at least 25% of registered voters’ signatures in District 2, or 1,762, according to the registrar of voters’ office. They must collect the signatures by Oct. 19, after which the petition faces a verification process overseen by local officials.
