The post Election 2018: Velazquez leads Machado for Hollister mayor appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>Hollister Mayor Ignacio Velazquez has a big lead over challenger Gordon Machado and Keith Snow after the initial results released by the San Benito County Elections Office.
Velazquez had 51.21% of the vote to 32.97% for Machado and 15.82% for Snow after initial results came out after 8 p.m. Velazquez’s vote lead after a 9:30 p.m. release of results was an all but insurmountable 2,431 to 1,635.
The initial vote counts released shortly after 8 p.m. include a large majority of local votes expected in today’s General Election, with those votes coming in largely through the mail. There was an additional release of votes at 9:30 p.m.
Velazquez is seeking his fourth two-year term as mayor of Hollister. The mayoral seat has a two-year term.
The mayor runs at large in the City of Hollister, while voters in four districts throughout the city elect the remaining members of the Hollister City Council.
Velazquez is owner of American Electrical Services in Hollister. Machado is owner of Rustic Turtle Embroidery in Hollister. Snow is a retired engineer.
See the latest numbers here.
The post Election 2018: Velazquez leads Machado for Hollister mayor appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>The post Election 2018: Spencer had big lead for District 3 Hollister council appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>Honor Spencer was out to a big lead in the race for Hollister City Council over two other candidates after the initial vote count was released after 8 p.m.
The three candidates running for the District 3 Hollister City Council seat are Raul Escareno, Elia Salinas and Honor Spencer.
Spencer had 47.11% percent of the vote to 33.27% for Salinas and 19.61% for Escareno.
Escareno is owner of Mangia’s Italian Kitchen, a Hollister restaurant. Salinas is most known as a consultant and her advocacy for the cannabis industry. Spencer is an employee for San Benito High School.
The post Election 2018: Spencer had big lead for District 3 Hollister council appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>The post Election 2018: Hernandez leads Loe in District 3 race appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>Peter Hernandez held a 3 percentage point lead over Pat Loe after the release of the latest results Tuesday night in the race for the District 3 seat on the San Benito County Board of Supervisors.
Hernandez held a lead of 51.51% to 48.49%, or 887 to 835 votes after the latest tally released at 10:52 p.m.. Loe had a five-vote lead after initial results were released shortly after 8 p.m.
Loe held the District 3 seat for two terms before losing in 2010 to Supervisor Robert Rivas, who’s running for the District 30 State Assembly seat. Hernandez is owner of Ohana Shave Ice in downtown Hollister.
See the latest results here.
The post Election 2018: Hernandez leads Loe in District 3 race appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>The post Election Recap: Video interviews with city, county candidates appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>With voters receiving ballots in the mail this week, San Benito Live is offering a recap of video interviews with candidates for local city council, mayoral, county board and judge seats. Below, choose from 20 video clips to help get yourself prepared to vote before or on Nov. 6:
https://vimeo.com/291925199
https://vimeo.com/291921030
https://vimeo.com/291929523
https://vimeo.com/265278974
https://vimeo.com/265381900
Advertisements Below
The post Election Recap: Video interviews with city, county candidates appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>The post Video: Meet candidates for San Juan Bautista council appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>San Juan Bautista City Council candidates took part in a forum Wednesday sponsored by the San Juan Bautista Community Business Association. Candidates Mary Edge, Cesar Flores, Harold Gomes, Leslie Jordan and Jacqueline Morris-Lopez attended. Here, see the opening statements of the five candidates from the forum held at the San Juan VFW Hall:
The post Video: Meet candidates for San Juan Bautista council appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>The post Election 2018: Luna lauds district’s progress appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>District 2 Hollister City Council incumbent Mickie Luna noted how she’s a native of this community and has been involved here for more than four decades. She was born and raised “in Hollister on the ranch where my dad used to grow tomatoes,” Luna told San Benito Live in a recent interview before the Nov. 6 election.
Luna mentioned working for the City of Hollister for over 30 years, involvement in the local public schools and several nonprofit organizations. She was one of the first people elected to the Community Action Board where she served for 12 years. She also talked about working with the county’s mental health board and was vice president of the local chapter of the American Red Cross.
Luna is the youngest of 12 children and also talked in an interview about her affinity for the armed services. She said a brother served and she married a Vietnam veteran.
As for the council, she’s finishing her first four-year term. Luna is facing challenger Rolan Resendiz for the seat on the Nov. 6 ballot.
“What motivates me is finally after several years, and I’m right now standing in District 2, nobody looked around and saw this district as a district in real need,” Luna said.
See the Mickie Luna video interview here. Story continues below.
She mentioned how now the district has an array of affordable housing developments.
“That will help the children as they go to school because they have their own home, their own study area,” she said.
Luna said parks and business development are keys for her going forward.
“On this side of town, we don’t have a drug store,” she said. “We need a drug store. We need some kind of banking.”
She said housing and education are particularly important to her, along with another big issue.
“The traffic is horrendous but the traffic is horrendous throughout the state of California and beyond,” Luna said.
She said she hopes to continue working with legislators on roads leading out of Hollister
“That’s something that we cannot stop,” she said of traffic congestion. “After all, you realize the housing moratorium was for six years-plus and there was no homes built at that time.”
She said it’s important that new residents realize there’s traffic here when they come.
“It would be nice to have maybe more restaurants in the area,” she said.
The post Election 2018: Luna lauds district’s progress appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>The post Election 2018: Resendiz concerned about ‘irresponsible’ growth appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>District 2 Hollister City Council challenger Rolan Resendiz noted how he grew up in east San Jose and moved to Hollister in 1997. He went straight into a trade after high school and had no formal education at first, but went back to school after his daughter’s birth to get his associate’s degree from Gavilan, a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s in public administration.
He said it was important how he grew up as a working-class citizen before getting a formal education.
“I think it makes me a well-rounded candidate and I think I’m fit for the job because of my qualifications,” he said.
Resendiz is running against incumbent Mickie Luna for the west-side council seat.
See the Rolan Resendiz video interview here. Story continues below.
He said his biggest motivation to run for the seat was lacking representation. He felt a need to step up and make a change.
“I would reach out to my representative,” he said. “I wasn’t getting any kind of feedback. I feel like, maybe, there’s definitely a lapse in communication between local government and what the citizens actually want, need and are asking for.”
He said he identifies himself as a community member. He wants to work collaboratively and his No. 1 issue is fair representation, he said.
“I think we need to eliminate any kind of biases or any unethical issues that may arise by limiting, I would say, campaign contributions from special-interest, third-party lobbyists,” he said. “The biggest, most important thing that everybody is so concerned about is the rate of our growth. I feel like we’re growing at a very irresponsible rate, which is going to lead to a whole batch of problems later on. We’re starting to feel that now.”
He said his No. 1 goal is to represent the people.
“I want to close that gap I was talking about with the lapse in communication between local government and the actual community members,” he said.
He said he wants to be fiscally responsible, plan responsibly, proactively invest in infrastructure, give attention to youths, enhance parks and help the schools when possible.
“It’s a very big issue right now,” he said of growth, “and I feel like we only get one opportunity to do this so we need the right people sitting on that council to help us with that.”
The post Election 2018: Resendiz concerned about ‘irresponsible’ growth appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>The post Video Interviews: District 2 Hollister City Council Candidates appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>In the race for District 2 Hollister City Council, incumbent Mickie Luna is facing challenger Rolan Resendiz. Below, in alphabetical order, watch San Benito Live’s video interviews with the two candidates on their background, motives for running, top issues and goals.
The post Video Interviews: District 2 Hollister City Council Candidates appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>The post Elections office releases voter, observer details for November appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>The San Benito County Elections Office released several important noticed prior to the Nov. 6 election on early voting, observer opportunities and polling places.
Here are the separate announcements on those matters submitted to San Benito Live:
Early Voting
San Benito County voters can vote early for the Nov. 6 election.
Early Voting
When: October 8th, 2018 – Election Day (November 6th, 2018)
Where: San Benito County Elections Department 440 5th Street Room 205, Hollister, CA 95023
Day/Time: Monday – Friday from 8am – 5pm (Excluding Holidays)
Weekend Voting
When: November 3rd & November 4th, 2018
Where: San Benito County Elections Department 440 5th Street Room 205, Hollister, CA 95023
Day/Time: Saturday & Sunday from 9am – 3pm
Election Voting Day
When: November 6th, 2018
Polls open at 7am & close at 8pm
All of San Benito County voters should look for our Official Election Mailing. The election logo is displayed in red ink on the front of the BLUE EXTERIOR ENVELOPE. This envelope contains your Voter Information Guide and your Voting Kit. There is only 1 mailing going out to voters from our office. If you need any assistance or have any questions contact the San Benito County Elections Department Monday – Friday from 8am – 5pm (excluding holidays).
Observer Opportunities
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Elections Department will convene an Election Observer Panel to observe activities associated with the 2018 General Election, which will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018. Representatives of political party county central committees, advocacy groups, the County Grand Jury, and any member of the public are invited to participate. The following is a list of election activities open to the public to observe at any time. Please call the Election Office to confirm the actual date and time: (831) 636-4016.
Optical Scan Logic and Accuracy Testing
Logic and Accuracy testing verifies that the specific ballot information for each precinct is correct, checks the performance of the vote tabulating equipment, and ensures that all votes are recorded properly and tabulated accurately. Testing of the vote-tabulating equipment will begin October 1st, 2018 at the Elections Department, 440 5th Street, Room 201, Hollister, CA.
ICX Ballot Marking Device Preparation and Testing
This is the loading of the voting data and comprehensive election logic and accuracy testing. Testing will begin October 1st, 2018 at the Elections Department, 440 5th Street, Room 201, Hollister, CA.
Vote-by-Mail Board Ballot Processing
Pursuant to California Elections Code Section 15101, the Elections Department will begin processing of returned vote-by-mail ballot envelopes after October 9th, 2018. Processing will take place at the Elections Department, 440 5th Street, Room 205, Hollister, CA.
Election Observer
This provides the public with the opportunity to observe the entire Election process, to build voter confidence & encourage more people to take part.
Election Night Ballot Receipt & Counting
The “Semi-Official Election Results” will be posted at approximately 8:01pm, Election Night, on the website www.sbcvote.us. Updates of results can also be found on the website (at approximately hourly intervals) until the Election night is complete.
Official Canvas
Pursuant to the California Elections Code Section 15301, the election canvass must start no later than the Thursday after the election. The canvass process is open to the public & continues until completed. After completing this process, the election results are then certified and made public.
Polling Place Locations
To find your polling place, go here.
The post Elections office releases voter, observer details for November appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>The post Local candidates file campaign finance forms appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>Local candidates for office had a Thursday deadline to file campaign finance forms for the period of July 1 through Sept. 22.
The following below are summaries of campaign finance documents available as of Friday morning, while candidates are not required to file if they raise under $2,000. To see the updated filings, go to sbcvote.us and search under elections, or else go here.
For updated filings from candidates running for Hollister City Council of Hollister mayor, go here.
Pat Loe, running for District 3 San Benito County supervisor
Total contributions: $15,376
Payments: $11,915
Cash Balance: $3,461
Jim Gillio, running for District 4 San Benito County supervisor
Total contributions: $33,406
Payments: $41,025
Cash Balance: $6,888
Jerry Muenzer, running for District 4 San Benito County supervisor
Total contributions: $7,788 ($6,600 loan to self)
Payments: $4,980
Cash Balance: $2,833
Greg LaForge, running for judge
Total contributions: $18,678
Payments: $8,115
Cash Balance: $10,529
To donations: William Marder for $5,000; Diversity Law Group for $4,855
Jose Omar Rodriguez, running for judge
Total contributions: $15,085 (including $10,000 loan to self)
Payments: $14,025
Cash Balance: $1,060
Jason Noble, running for the San Benito County Health Care District
Total contributions: $5,000 (loan to self)
Payments: $1,957
Cash Balance: $5,000
Frank Barragan, running for the San Benito County Health Care District
Total contributions: $5,000 to self
Robert Gilchrist Heunemann, running for the San Benito County Water Board
Total contributions: $5,153 plus $1,699
Payments: $1,111
Cash Balance: $1,547
The post Local candidates file campaign finance forms appeared first on San Benito Live.
]]>