One of the two seats is open because George Dias, seen here, declined to run for reelection.
SAN JUAN BAUTISTA
It's a four-way race for the San Juan Bautista City Council's two open seats between Maggie Bilich, Rick Edge, Jim Pereyra and Jeff Bagley.
Edge currently holds one seat as an appointed incumbent, and the other seat will be vacated by Mayor George Dias, who isn't running for reelection.
The four candidates have differing backgrounds. The following are narratives, in alphabetical order, on each candidate:
Jeff Bagley
Bagley is a planning commissioner with San Juan and says people should vote for him because of his involvement with the city, he says. Having worked for the city for the past eight years and with the fire department for six, Bagley says he "knows what the problems are in this town." While employed for the city, he has operated in many facets ranging from the planning commission to animal control.
Another high point for him, he says, is his prior election to the council in 2006. After he won the seat, the city attorney had told him that it would create a conflict of interest with his position in public works.
For Bagley, the biggest priority for the city is focusing on infrastructure for both the water and sewer systems.
Bagley adds that his is "looking for a good clean election ... no mudslinging like last time."
Maggie Bilich
Bilich is a retired San Juan resident of 30 years. She believes she is he most caring person running, she says. Bilich would like to see the town survive and thrive, she says.
Her experience with the city started in 1985 when she began working as a city clerk, a position she held until 1992. As a former union president and former head of the Democratic Party of San Benito County, Bilich has had to deal with many people, bargain and conduct contract reviews. She also holds a masters degree in business administration.
For Bilich, the biggest issue is "bringing new people back into town," she says. She has been working with her church and El Teatro Campesino, with hopes of getting the chamber of commerce involved, to bring tourism into the city. Another important pair of important issues to Bilich are water and the wastewater plant.
Rick Edge
Edge was appointed after former Mayor Dan Reed passed away. He works full time in real estate sales and believes people should vote for him based on his past performance.
"I've been on the council for the last two years," he says. "If people have been paying attention, they should know what kind of job I'm doing already."
Edge has more than 10 years experience working for the city - nine on the planning commission and two on the council. When he was living in Tres Pinos, he was on the school board. He also has served on the board at Sacred Heart Parish School and has lived in the county since the late 1960s.
Edge says serving on the council is a service to the public adds that he has "no ax to grind" - that he is only there to represent the citizens of San Juan Bautista.
His biggest priority is the "general financial health of the city," he says.
"With the economy, tourism has been down," he says. "With lowered tourism, there has been less and less sales tax income."
Jim Pereyra
Pereyra says citizens should vote for him because he cares about San Juan Bautista and he is tired of the current city council's actions. Pereyra would like to hold himself and other council member accountable for their votes, rather than seeing "voting as they see fit."
He has been involved in the city's politics since 1991 when he moved to the area. He also ran unsuccessfully for the council in 2006.
He says his legal background will help cut through the red tape he believes is currently surrounding the city, Pereyra says.
His biggest priority is the $25 million bond issuance for wastewater treatment. Pereyra says the city is in no financial position to repay this bond. With the city a step away from bankruptcy, he says, it "needs a leader (who) needs to listen to the city and empowers its residents rather than makes them fearful."
Colin McConville Colin McConville is a reporter with the Hollister Free Lance. You can reach him by email or at (831) 637-5566.
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