Hollister
– With 40 percent of ballots counted, challenger Eugenia Sanchez
lead incumbent Mayor Robert Scattini in the race for the District 2
seat on the Hollister City Council, taking 62 percent of the vote
to Scattini’s 38 percent.
Hollister – With 40 percent of ballots counted, challenger Eugenia Sanchez lead incumbent Mayor Robert Scattini in the race for the District 2 seat on the Hollister City Council, taking 62 percent of the vote to Scattini’s 38 percent.
As of press time on Tuesday, Sanchez held 382 votes to Scattini’s 235, too close to call for an exhausted Sanchez as she readied for bed just before midnight on Tuesday. If the results hold, Sanchez will unseat longtime Hollister public figure Scattini. Scattini will remain the county’s marshal, but the end of his four-year stint on the City Council appeared inevitable Tuesday night.
The results have thus far surprised Sanchez.
“I thought it was going to be closer,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez described her campaign as “a wonderful experience, very positive.”
Scattini told the Free Lance Tuesday afternoon that even if he didn’t finish ahead in the polls, he would still feel like a winner. Scattini said he would begin refocusing his life in two weeks if the results were not in his favor.
Scattini could not be reached for further comment before night’s end.
Voters chimed in Tuesday evening with opinions on both candidates.
Roel Canales, of Hollister, voted for the challenger Sanchez.
“I think we need a change,” said Canales standing outside of a classroom at R.O. Hardin Elementary School after voting.
Gerardo Madera, of Hollister, also voted for Sanchez. Madera said Sanchez impressed him with her speaking. He also believed it was time for a change.
“I’ve lived here all my life and I haven’t seen any radical change,” Madera said.
But some voters believed Scattini should continue on the city council. Brett Enzensperger would like to see the Hollister motorcycle rally get back in form.
“He’s pro-rally,” said Enzensperger of Scattini. “I kind of like what he’s done.”
Wendy Nord, of Hollister, said she voted for Scattini not only on name recognition, but for job performance.
“Because I know some of his family members,” Nord said. “He’s been doing his job fine.”
The candidates come from differing backgrounds.
The 66-year-old Scattini said he has lived in Hollister since he was 2 years old.
With his longtime involvement in law enforcement, Scattini has been a public figure in Hollister for more than 40 years. Scattini has been the county marshal since 1987, serving to provide civil law enforcement for the courts. He spent six years as a deputy with the Sheriff’s Department, 17 years with the California Highway Patrol and four as county sheriff.
Scattini was elected to the District 2 City Council seat in 2002 by a 20-vote margin over then-incumbent Peggy Corrales. The City Council voted unanimously to elect him mayor of Hollister in 2005.
Scattini campaigned on his record. He had a perfect attendance record at council meetings coming into the election. He has supported revitalizing the motorcycle rally and has focused on beginning construction on the wastewater treatment plant, which many hope will lead to the end of the city’s moratorium on new development.
Sanchez, 38, came into the race as a dark horse challenger, but offered what she hopes will be a fresh start.
She obtained an associate of arts degree at Gavilan College and attended San Jose State University for a year before her educational plans were sidetracked by pregnancy, then by her daughter’s asthma. But education is important to her, she said, and Sanchez eventually obtained her bachelor’s degree and her teaching credential from California State University, Monterey.
Sanchez touted her experience dealing with school district finance issues on the Hollister School District Board of Trustees as ample ability to deal with the city’s $2.7 million budget deficit. She also planned to tackle the increasing sewer rates, stating a need for a different solution and that “not everyone has the same income.”
In March, Sanchez voted in line with a unanimous Hollister School District Board of Trustees to give the district’s teachers their first raise in four years.
Sanchez felt confident about the results Tuesday night.
“Really positive, really good,” Sanchez said.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335, or mv*********@fr***********.com
