It’s a sequel four years in the making.
It’s a sequel four years in the making.
Incumbent Supervisor Anthony Botelho will once again face challenger Anthony Freitas this June for the District 2 seat on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors.
In 2004, Botelho defeated Freitas 58.5 percent to 41.2 percent and is completing his first four years on the board. The two orchardists both tabbed economic development as their major concerns. In advance of the June 3 election, the Free Lance sat down with the candidates, who provided the following views on the county’s major issues and their philosophies as leaders.
Botelho – ‘a lot more
to do’
Botelho said he has brought various programs to District 2 and that county government is on solid footing.
“I’ve represented my district well,” he said.
Botelho said supervisors brought a higher level of professionalism to county government and he wants to continue down that road.
“I think first and foremost we still have to work to do what we started, (which) I had hoped to accomplish when I was first elected,” he said.
The general plan is something he would like to see completed, he said. He also would like to see both Hollister and San Benito County continue toward heightened aggressiveness in economic development.
He believes various factions should be given the opportunity to offer input as the county moves forward – as that’s the key to reaching community consensus, he said.
“There is just a lot more to do,” Botelho said.
Regarding the general plan, Botelho said he will push for a responsible growth plan that is balanced with the need for job creation for citizens, he said.
“At least have an opportunity to work here (and) preserve our rural and historic character, which is very important in my district,” he said.
Botelho said the county has had a long history of not being business friendly. He said he wants more flexibility to allow opportunities to be explored.
Botelho said for short term he is hoping to be involved in providing leadership for business groups. In a long term, he would like to see more flexible zoning designations and he hopes to spur more commercial opportunities along area highways.
“There is nothing you can buy or do along our highways that’s tax generating,” he said.
Botelho said there is an opportunity to better promote tourism, specifically in San Juan Bautista and at wineries, he said.
Botelho noted about the general economy that the county has worked with Hollister officials and the water district to get the city’s building moratorium lifted – caused by the 2002 sewage spill into the San Benito River bed.
Overall, he said there should be a balance of higher density growth in some areas while other areas should be preserved for agriculture and maintaining open spaces. As far as DMB’s proposed El Rancho San Benito project, he said a lot of work still has to be done.
He said the county should progress deliberately on it.
“I have a number of questions and concerns and … they will be answered before I can give a positive vote,” Botelho said.
He said the developers need to be part of fixing the transportation problem in the region as well.
Freitas – ‘there is no one who owns me’
Challenger Anthony Freitas said he plans to do many things differently.
“First of all, I plan to read the issues, study the issues and make a decision, (and) not sit on the fence,” he said.
Freitas said there are things that could’ve been done but weren’t, such as pushing for more economic development. He also noted how the general plan still has to be revised.
“I read my stuff (and) I know how to deal with people,” he said.
He emphasized needing stronger recruitment of employers to the area. He also believes the county should drop fees charged for development to make it more inviting for people and businesses to move here.
“Everybody that’s in politics or whatever, they talk about (economic development), but nothing gets done,” Freitas said.
He noted how San Juan Bautista is in need of help and how stores there are closing down.
Freitas said he is the kind of guy who will dedicate himself to the job 100 percent. People want someone in there with honesty and integrity and that is the platform he is running on, he said.
“You have to be able to work with the rest of the supervisors,” he said. “As a former planning commissioner, I did that.”
Economic development is one of his biggest concerns, and growth can’t stop completely, he said. He pointed to the county’s 1 percent growth standard as a problem.
“San Benito County actually (isn’t) having any growth,” Freitas said. “You have to have more growth, but you have to know where you’re going to do it.”
Freitas said the roads are outdated and are breaking up and crumbling.
Freitas said public safety is another issue that’s important to him, that he supports the sheriff’s office and fire department.
“You have to make this a friendlier county,” Freitas said. “I’m a person who loves my county and wants to help my people in my county.”
Freitas urged for more tourism promotion. He also noted San Juan Bautista with its shops, and the area’s wineries, as potential sellers for the county.
Freitas said he would do what’s best for the majority of people here.
“I’m the only one guy with my feet under that desk, and there is no one who owns me,” he said.
Freitas said that he has questions for El Rancho San Benito developers before he makes a decision whether he is for or against the project. He can’t say he is totally against it, but he did say he wonders if it would be good for the county and that he’s a little skeptical about it. He said he would examine both sides of the argument.
“Five supervisors aren’t going to say yes or no on it,” he said. “That will go to the vote of the people.”
