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On July 22, less than a month after he was ousted from the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, Ignacio Velazquez has filed nomination papers to run for the same District 5 seat.
Chief Deputy Clerk-Recorder Ana De Castro Maquiz confirmed on July 22 that Velazquez filed paperwork and only needs to submit 20 valid nomination signatures to be qualified for the general election.
His candidacy raises legal questions regarding his eligibility to run for the same seat from which he was recalled.
County Clerk, Recorder, and Registrar of Voters Francisco Diaz said the elections office will accept his nomination.
“The elections office initially denied a request for nomination papers following the successful recall of the supervisor,” he said. “However, after consulting with the state and conducting a legal review, elections reversed course to issue the paperwork. The decision should ultimately rest with the voters.”
Diaz declined to clarify which state officials he consulted.
Stacie McGrady, spokesperson for the group of residents that led the recall effort, said she does not plan to legally challenge the county elections office’s decision.
“I think it’s worth looking into if he is eligible, but I trust Francisco [Diaz] if he says there is no legal reason that keeps him from running,” she said.
Velazquez said he is running to finish the job he started and repeated claims that special interest groups wanted him out of office because he said, “I was stopping out-of-control growth and other schemes.”
He said the county elections office violated his right to run for office when it initially denied him nomination papers.
“They violated my First Amendment rights to run for office,” he said. “What they did was wrong.”
The California Attorney General and Secretary of State offices did not immediately respond to questions regarding whether Velazquez is eligible to run for the seat from which he was recently recalled.
District 5 covers northern San Benito County between Highways 25 and 156, and includes parts of downtown Hollister. It also includes residential areas along Sunnyslope Road, Memorial Drive and McCray Street.
Velazquez was recalled from office on June 26 after losing by 33 votes, in an effort spearheaded by a group of residents who contended his actions put public safety at risk. They pointed to a controversial fire service contract between the city of Hollister and San Benito County.
Velazquez, however, contended that the effort was spearheaded by special interest groups who favor developers.
The nomination period for more than 50 elected positions in various agencies opened on July 13 and closes Aug. 7 at 5 p.m.
So far, two other candidates, John Williams and Rodney Bianchi, have qualified to be on the Nov. 3 ballot for the District 5 seat.
Chief Deputy Clerk-Recorder Ana De Castro Maquiz previously told BenitoLink that whoever wins the seat in the general election would take office immediately after the results are certified and be sworn into office. The winner would serve the remainder of Velazquez’s term, which ends in December 2028.
Before being elected to the Board of Supervisors, Velazquez served as the Hollister mayor for more than 10 years.
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