Several local residents have added their names to the list of potential candidates on the June primary ballot, and that includes someone vying for Sheriff Darren Thompson’s job.
William Dale Hutchison has pulled papers indicating interest in a run, but has yet to qualify for the ballot. Thompson has qualified for the ballot after starting the election process during the period where candidates can submit signatures in lieu of filing fees. Hutchison has been a Hollister police officer and a deputy with the local sheriff’s office.
Thompson has held the job since 2010. The pay on most recent state records, from 2016, show Thompson made $186,167 in total compensation.
There are now five possible candidates running for Jerry Muenzer’s seat on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors. Hollister School District Trustee Rob Bernosky and fellow District 4 resident Sandy Swint filed papers indicating interest in running for the job, according to the San Benito County Elections Office. Those two join the incumbent, Hollister Councilman Jim Gillio and Elia Salinas on the list of residents filing initial papers for a potential run. Muenzer and Gillio are the only two who have fully qualified for the ballot as of Monday morning. District 4 covers southwest Hollister and southern San Benito County.
In the other county board race, former District 3 Supervisor Pat Loe has indicated her intention in campaign papers to run against previously declared candidates, newcomers Jerry Reimer and Richard Perez, for the District 3 seat she held for two terms before Supervisor Robert Rivas unseated her in 2010. Another political newcomer, Peter Hernandez, has now pulled papers showing interest in a possible run. District 3 covers southwest Hollister, while District 4 covers south county and southeast Hollister.
Rivas is running for the District 30 State Assembly seat in an attempt to succeed Anna Caballero, who terms out this year. He has not indicated any desire to run for reelection as supervisor. He has potential competition on the ballot as well. Current Gilroy City Councilman and former San Benito County Deputy District Attorney Peter Leroe-Munoz has indicated interest in a run. He also ran in 2016 for Assembly. Additionally, Trina Coffman-Gomez of Watsonville has indicated interest in a run for the seat.
For the full list of current candidates and residents starting the process to become candidates, go here.
