Welcome aboard, Madam Mayor
Eugenia Sanchez, Hollister’s new mayor, understands that the
position is largely an honorary courtesy, but in a recent
conversation she gives every indication that she intends to take
the position seriously.
In Hollister, the mayor’s seat is rotated annually between
council members, and aside from presiding at meetings, the job
carries no special powers or responsibilities.
Welcome aboard, Madam Mayor
Eugenia Sanchez, Hollister’s new mayor, understands that the position is largely an honorary courtesy, but in a recent conversation she gives every indication that she intends to take the position seriously.
In Hollister, the mayor’s seat is rotated annually between council members, and aside from presiding at meetings, the job carries no special powers or responsibilities.
But Sanchez made it clear that the priorities she identified when she ran two years ago will be the city’s priorities as we enter 2009.
Appropriately, it is public safety, municipal finances and communications that top her “to-do” list.
With a spike in property crime and a forecast of soft retail sales – and, consequently, a reduction in sales tax revenue – her focus is well timed.
Sanchez already has committed herself to improved communication. A teacher, she is routinely available daily after 2:30 p.m. She makes her personal phone number available to constituents and she saw to it that the city Web site was available in Spanish as well as English.
Her emphasis on communication and collaboration has not gone unnoticed.
Susan Thompson, the county’s chief administrative officer, recently noted that Hollister and county officials are involved in what she described as “an extremely complex and highly coordinated collaboration to determine the viability of the Fremont School site for the new court facility.”
A geographic information systems mapping project brought county and city agencies together as well, providing a powerful planning tool that’s been made available to the public on the Web.
Hollister in 2009 faces as many challenges as it ever has, and as the city continues to grow, the perceived need for a full-time, elected at-large mayor appears to be growing as well.
But Sanchez gives every appearance of giving the job of mayor all the attention it deserves.
