The Hollister City Council questioned three applicants for the vacant city treasurer position after which Geri Johnson was sworn in on the spot because the council was literally headed for the doors to begin its extended vacation for the entire month of July.
Beforehand, the candidates—Johnson, Nancy Durham and Judi Johnson—each stepped in front of the council for questioning. City Attorney Soren Diaz told the council they must select a candidate that night because they were required to fill the position made vacant by the resignation of Cecilia Rios no later than Aug. 1.
Each candidate had filled out a questionnaire and each council member had been asked to come up with one or more questions. The council pretty much stuck to the script of softball questions as they asked all three the same ones.
Judi Johnson was randomly selected to go before the council first. Mayor Ignacio Velazquez told her, and each candidate afterward, that each council member would ask one question and the candidates would have up to three minutes to respond to them. The mayor went first, asking her why she was interested in the position.
“Because I want to do it,” Johnson said bluntly, and continued, “I ran for this office (in 2014, when Geri Johnson was filling it as City Clerk, and Rios won) during the last election and was not chosen, so tonight I want to be chosen. Part of your leadership team should be energetic, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I am and I will continue to be.”
Councilman Karson Klauer asked her why she should be the one appointed.
“Because I’m good,” she answered. “Because I want to do it and I’m always willing to learn new things. And you know what, I can balance my own checkbook.”
Judi Johnson said that as a former San Benito High School teacher she taught business and over the years, many of her students’ parents thanked her for teaching the subject to their children.
“The business of government finance has so many facets and I’m interested in doing the best job that I can for you and for the residents of Hollister,” she said.
Councilman Raymond Friend ask about her previous experience with the city. She said that she didn’t have any with the city, but said since she had lived in the city for 18 years she has had involvement with a number of its agencies, especially dealing with water.
“I’ve been active with water agencies and committees,” she said. “I also volunteer at the senior center and I can call ‘Bingo’ like nobody else can. Have I had an office? No, but I want one.”
Councilman Jim Gillio asked, “Are you willing to meet the time commitment and assume the responsibilities associated with serving as treasurer without reservation?”
She said she was and that she thought long and hard before previously campaigning for the position. She said she was aware of what the job entails, recalling her experience as a city clerk in Florida, as well as San Juan Bautista.
When Geri Johnson was asked the same questions, she responded that she should get the job because she had already done it before and was familiar with the inner-workings of the city. She said it would be an easy transition for her. Before he asked his question about her past experience, Friend described it as the dumbest question because he has known her for a number of years.
“If we don’t know the answer to this, then we shouldn’t be sitting up here,” he said, and then asked it anyway, “What is your previous experience?”
After the audience stopped laughing, Geri Johnson answered straight-faced, “I was in the City Clerk’s office two months shy of 30 years. And I was city treasurer for about eight years.”
She responded to Gillio that she was prepared to devote the time and commitment associated with the position. Then, Nancy Durham stood before the council, saying that she has worked for the city in the Finance Department and when she found out the treasurer’s position was available because Rios moved out of the city, she said it’s her belief that a person should always try to step up and help where they can.
To Klauer’s question about why the council should appoint her, she said she has a degree in accounting and also studied governmental accounting because of her work with the city. To Friend’s question about experience, she repeated her work in the Finance Department, handling utility billings and business licenses.
When all three were brought back for the council vote, the Velazquez thanked them. Before the vote, Gillio asked what the term of service would be. Diaz told him it was normally two years, but would only be until the Nov. 2018 election because it was an un-expired term. Velazquez asked if the three were aware of this fact and they each said they were.
The mayor barely was able to ask if there were any nominations when Friend tossed out Geri Johnson’s name. There was an immediate second and all four council members present—Mickie Luna was absent—voted in favor of her. Before anyone could leave, Diaz suggested she be sworn in, which caught everyone by surprise, including Christine Black, the deputy city clerk, who left the room to set the paperwork in motion, and came back and gave Johnson the oath of office as city treasurer.
You must be logged in to post a comment.