Botelho earns another four years after winning rematch with
Freitas
Anthony Botelho has won another term as District 2 supervisor, beating challenger Anthony Freitas by 15 percentage points in Tuesday’s primary election, according to unofficial election results.
Botelho won by a slightly smaller margin than his victory in 2004 over Freitas.
Botelho gained 981 votes, or 57.4 percent, to Freitas’ 724 votes, or 42.4 percent of the vote.
“We’ve got Champaign in our hands,” Botelho said after the final results came in Tuesday after 11 p.m. “We’re just thrilled this moment has come and the people of San Benito County have given me the opportunity to serve for another four years.”
Botelho held his victory party at Jardines De San Juan Restaurant in San Juan where about 50 people had gathered to celebrate the end of a long campaign.
“We ran a very positive campaign, and I’m ready to stay focused going forward,” Botelho said. “My No. 1 priority is creating jobs. We have to set goals and continue to strive for those goals.”
Although Freitas made slight gains from his 18-point loss to Botelho in 2004, the 15-point defeat he was handed tonight suggests little movement among supporters for each candidate.
Botelho noted that although competition between the two had been heated at times, he “harbored no grudges” and said he valued the campaign process for its effect on his leadership.
“I appreciate the fact (Freitas) ran for county supervisor,” Botelho said. “Not many people have the guts to do it, and I think it makes me a better supervisor by going through the democratic process.”
Freitas was unavailable for comment Tuesday night and did not immediately return a phone call.
