At Monday's Hollister City Council meeting, Councilwoman Monica Johnson recommended that Mayor Doug Emerson be considered for another year-long term in the figurehead position.
Normally, there is a rotation from district to district for the mayor position or someone nominates a council member and a vote is taken. As vice mayor, Johnson would be slated to move into the position of mayor. With Gomez replacing her, he has potential to be the next mayor, said Emerson. He added that he is excited to work with Gomez, whomever is mayor.
Johnson places much of the importance of the mayoral position on the ability to be at many places at any time during the day.
"The most important reason is that he has the most free time," Johnson said.
Emerson, who is retired, has the time to attend many of the meetings Johnson and the other council members can't attend without taking time off of their schedules.
She also said that having a consistent mayor is important. Issues such as housing and the building moratorium being lifted deserve the time he can give.
"He's been a great representative for the city," Johnson said.
Even if she had run in her election and been elected to the council again, Johnson said she would appoint Emerson mayor again rather than take over the position. Her reasoning for stating this at the meeting is because, she said, she has been honest and direct person with the public. Johnson said she has often spoke highly of him and his role.
Some community members had expected to ask voters whether to make the mayor an at-large position elected citywide, but officials put off the consideration until after the 2010 census, due to a recommendation from a consultant who said she could not redistrict without having one district lose its standing as having a majority of Hispanic voters.
Colin McConville Colin McConville is a reporter with the Hollister Free Lance. You can reach him by email or at (831) 637-5566.
Although the Hollister Free Lance does not have any obligation to monitor this board, the Hollister Free Lance reserves the right at all times to check this board and to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to the Hollister Free Lance in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. The Hollister Free Lance also reserves the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions. All threats to systems or site infrastructure shall be assumed genuine in nature and will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. Submission of any comments will be considered permission to use online or in print.
Video: County officials sworn in