Four candidates vye for city council
There are four candidates vying for two open seats on San Juan
Bautista City Council and a few names might look familiar. Back on
the ballot is Jeff Bagley, who won a seat two years ago only to
turn it down before he took an oath of office; Maggie Bilich, a
former San Juan city clerk; incumbent Rick Edge; and Jim Pereyra,
who ran for city council in the last election and lost. Incumbent
George Dias is not seeking reelection.
Four candidates vye for city council
There are four candidates vying for two open seats on San Juan Bautista City Council and a few names might look familiar. Back on the ballot is Jeff Bagley, who won a seat two years ago only to turn it down before he took an oath of office; Maggie Bilich, a former San Juan city clerk; incumbent Rick Edge; and Jim Pereyra, who ran for city council in the last election and lost. Incumbent George Dias is not seeking reelection.
After Bagley’s resignation, city council members accepted applications for Bagley’s seat. Councilman Ed Laverone was appointed for the position.
“I couldn’t take my seat because I was employed by the City of San Juan,” Bagley said. “I pretty much do the same job as I did before, but now I’m getting paid by somebody else.”
A former employee for San Juan’s public works department, Bagley now works for the MCE Corporation, a company with which the San Juan council contracts for public works.
“If I had my preference I’d be on San Juan City Council now, but that’s not how things panned out,” Bagley said. “All I can do is tell people, ‘Hey, I’m back and this time it’s going to stick.'”
There is nothing in the county code that would prevent Bagley from becoming a San Juan City Council member while being employed by city consultants, said Joe Paul Gonzalez, county clerk-auditor-elections-recorder for San Benito County.
“The county doesn’t really have jurisdiction on that kind of thing,” Gonzalez said. “If the city has any question about it, they would have to consult with their attorney to resolve a conflict.”
Bagley will not have to choose between his job and city council, said George Thatcher, city attorney for San Juan Bautista.
“If he is elected to the council, and an item comes up which involves his employer, he may have to sit out,” Thatcher said.
MCE staff appear before city council members once per month, said Trish Paetz, acting city clerk. At that time, city council members have an opportunity to question staff.
Pereyra questioned Bagley’s motivation for running.
“Why is he on the ballot this time?” Pereyra asked. “He suddenly realized that he’s no longer a city employee? It’s a joke.”
Before an election, city council candidates sign a declaration that they will accept the seat if elected, Pereyra said.
“He perjured himself because he knew he was a city employee, which in essence disqualified him from even nominating himself,” Pereyra said.
The previous city attorney told Bagley he could be on city council while being a city employee, only to be told after the election by the new city attorney that he would have to choose, Bagley said.
“At the last minute I was scrambling for another job but I ended up having to step down before I took my seat,” Bagley said. “This time I am not employed by the city and it should be a go, if I am elected.”
It is up to Bagley and his employer whether he can accept the position, said Edge, a councilman who was appointed two years ago after the death of councilman Dan Reed.
At this point in the election cycle, Bagley could not drop if he wanted to, Gonzalez said.
“There has to be an election on their candidacy,” Gonzalez said. “The question is, will he be seated?”
Before declaring candidacy, residents should do the research ahead of time to determine if they have a conflict of interest, Gonzalez said.
“If a conflict is determined, they are going to have to give up one or the other,” Gonzalez said.
Bagley would be a good addition to city council, Bilich said.
“I think he’d be good because he knows all about the city,” Bilich said.
City council members are trying to take power away from the public, Pereyra said.
“Right now, two of your five members are appointed,” Pereyra said. “I’m tired of all these meetings that the public can’t go to. They’re unlawful in my opinion.”
Candidates
Maggie Bilich
AGE: 62
Years of residence: 28
Employment: retired city clerk
Qualifications: San Juan City clerk for five years; former head of the SEIU 535, a 12,000 person union; and the head of the San Benito County Democratic Party. She has a never-ending interest in what goes on in San Juan.
Top priorities: tourism, water and wastewater systems
Jeff Bagley
Age: 45
Residency: off and on for 28 years
Employment: public works technician for MCE Corporation, a consultant employed by San Juan officials for public works
Qualifications: Former San Juan city employee in the public works department; member of the San Juan Bautista planning commission/historic board; volunteer firefighter for San Juan.
Top priorities: He has a concern for the city and desire to see it move in a positive direction.
Rick Edge, incumbent
Age: 62
Years of Residence: 18
Employment: real estate sales
Qualifications: San Juan City Council member; former school board member for the Tres Pinos School District and Sacred Heart School; nine years on the San Juan Bautista planning commission; former reporter for the Hollister Free Lance and a Hollister policep: Economic development, balancing the budget and providing residents with as many services as possible. Infrastructure improvements, including the water project and repaving roads.
Jim Pereyra
Age: 63
Years of residence: 17
Employment: Owner of South County Organized Rider Education, a motorcycle safety training business
Qualifications: Extensive legal background, including a law degree.
Top priorities: Getting an elected mayor rather than an appointed mayor. Closer collaboration between city council and the San Juan Bautista Chamber of Commerce. Making sure that plans to build another power substation that will come online by 2010 stays on track.
