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Notable candidates and races that will appear on voters’ ballots for the Nov. 3 general election include former Hollister councilmember Tim Burns, who is running for mayor, and former city manager Bill Avera, who is challenging incumbent councilmember Dolores Morales.
For the San Benito County Board of Supervisors District 5 seat, three candidates are competing to fill the remaining term of ousted former Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez, including business owner and current San Benito County Board of Education member Rodney Bianchi, Hazel Hawkins Hospital Auxiliary President John Williams, and as a result of a quirk in state law Velazquez himself.
Velazquez was recalled in the June primary election by 33 votes, earning more than 49% of the vote.
Outside of city and county politics, San Benito Health Care District Director Devon Pack is being challenged by physician Dr. Nazhat Parveen Sharma, who has previously been on the board. Local farmer Greg Swett and community organizer Roxy Montana are running unopposed in zones 4 and 5, respectively.
Montana is taking over the seat that was vacated by Dr. Nick Gabriel after the board sacked him citing his continued absences, while Swett is replacing Director Josie Sanchez who is not seeking reelection.
Burns served as District 4 council member from 2021 to 2024. In his reelection bid, he was narrowly defeated by Councilmember Priscilla de Anda, who won 52.6% of the vote.
He will run against retired city employee Christina Garza and entrepreneur Scott McPhail, who ran unsuccessfully as a write-in candidate for San Benito County Board of Supervisors District 4 in the June primary. The deadline to file to run for mayor was extended until Aug. 12 at 5 p.m. after Mayor Roxanne Stephens did not seek reelection.
Avera seeks to return to the city as an elected official after serving as its top administrator for six years until he retired in November 2019. Avera is vying to unseat Morales, who has been representing District 3 since she was elected in 2021.
Businessman Brian Chavez, who ran unopposed, will complete the city council if no other person files before the extended deadline. Chavez would represent District 2, replacing Councilmember Rolan Resendiz. Current Treasurer and former mayor, Gordon Machado is being challenged by Jonathan Casey, husband of former mayor Mia Casey.
The deadline to pull papers to run for an elected office in the November general election ended Aug. 7. The deadline for races in which the incumbent is not seeking reelection was extended to Aug. 12.
In San Benito County, voters will decide representatives for a variety of other state and local positions, including on schools, water and healthcare boards.
The following is a final partial list of races with qualified candidates as of Aug. 7:
Congress 18th District:
Zoe Lofgren
Shane Lewis
Assembly District 29
Robert Rivas
Dennis Sanchez
Board of Supervisors District 5
Rodney Bianchi
Ignacio Velazquez
John Williams
Hollister Mayor
Tim Burns
Christina Garza
Scott McPhail
Hollister City Council District 2
Brian Chavez
Hollister City Council District 3
William Avera
Dolores Morales
San Juan Bautista City Council (3 at-large seats)
Elise Brentnall
Jackie Morris-Lopez
Leslie Jordan
San Benito Health Care District Zone 2
Devon Pack
Dr. Nazhat Parveen Sharma
San Benito Health Care District Zone 4
Gregory Swett
San Benito Health Care District Zone 5
Roxy Montana
The full list of races and candidates is here.
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