Lea este artículo en español aquí.
After a countywide mailer referred to the campaign to recall Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez as a “scam,” the group leading the effort fired back with a complaint to the California Fair Political Practices Commission on Sept. 23.
Safer San Benito co-chair Stacy McGrady told BenitoLink the complaint focused on “false allegations” and “unsubstantiated claims.”
The mailer, also posted online, tied the recall to former Hollister mayor Mia Casey—saying she “wanted to build thousands of houses on farmland surrounding Hollister”—and to McGrady, accusing her of backing “more growth and expanding the landfill.”
Safer San Benito told BenitoLink that it believes Velazquez was behind the mailer, noting it listed his business address and the name of “Hollister Enchilada,” a Facebook group he administers.
“Velazquez continues to deflect from the truth,” McGrady said. “The recall is about failed leadership, ignoring the public, backroom deals and fiscal mismanagement, and especially his refusal to put public safety first.”
To McGrady, branding the recall a “scam” was “inflammatory.” She said that the word “scam” “triggered” people and endangered the organization.
The group also pointed to a September incident at the Hollister Main Post Office, where a signature gatherer reported being confronted, harassed and intimidated by Velazquez, who allegedly told her she was “part of a scam.”
Safer San Benito told BenitoLink that, to them, such actions violate California Election Code 18630, which prohibits interference with signature gathering.
The FPPC confirmed it received the complaint on Sept. 23 and told the group it would take longer than the usual 14 days to decide whether to open an investigation.
According to its website, the FPPC has initiated three investigations against Velazquez in the past decade. All cases have now been closed.
In one of them, the FPPC found that, while serving as Hollister’s mayor, Velazquez failed to properly recuse himself from City Council meetings where matters involving his financial interests were being discussed.
In another case, the agency concluded that Velazquez had a conflict of interest when, as mayor, he voted in favor of holding the 2013 biker rally in downtown Hollister while owning two properties in the area.
Velazquez has also filed three FPPC complaints of his own; one is still pending and the other two have closed.
Meanwhile, Safer San Benito submitted more than 2,200 signatures to the county Elections Department last week, which is more than the 1,833 required to qualify for a recall election. Elections Department staff have until Nov. 3 to verify them. If enough signatures are valid, the recall will move to the ballot of the June 2026 primary election.
We need your help. Support local, nonprofit news! BenitoLink is a nonprofit news website that reports on San Benito County. Our team is committed to this community and providing essential, accurate information to our fellow residents. It is expensive to produce local news and community support is what keeps the news flowing. Please consider supporting BenitoLink, San Benito County’s public service, nonprofit news.