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With a recall campaign under way that could oust him from office and shift the balance of power of the San Benito County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Ignacio Velazquez convened what he called a “town hall” on Jan. 15.
Joined by some of his political allies, Velazquez held the event at The Vault, a downtown Hollister venue that he owns. According to an invitation, the gathering was limited to residents of his district, which spans north county between Highways 25 and 156, including downtown Hollister and the Hollister Municipal Airport.
Although the event took place less than five months before election day, Velazquez told BenitoLink it was not related to the recall effort.
“I like town halls,” Velazquez said. “I want to do more. Right now I’m trying to do one every six months. This wasn’t about the recall. There’s no need to bring negativity to something that’s positive.”
Velazquez was joined by members of his family, along with Hollister Mayor Roxanne Stephens, Hollister City Councilmember Rudy Picha, and Hollister Planning Commissioner Julio Rodríguez. Picha and Rodríguez both represent areas of the city that overlap with Velazquez’s district.
Guests were offered an open buffet with chicken, salad, potatoes and pasta, along with drinks, including beer and wine. On each table were two sheets of paper: one explaining how property tax revenue is distributed in the county, and another with blank space for attendees to submit questions about county and city issues.
In front of each place setting was an envelope where guests could make a monetary contribution to Velazquez’s 2028 campaign.
The Fair Political Practices Commission’s manual for the use of campaign funds allows candidates to spend on meals and beverages and doesn’t forbid alcohol at political events, as long as the spending is related to a political or governmental purpose and is properly reported.
The manual doesn’t set rules on who may attend such events and does not prohibit limiting them to residents of a specific district. BenitoLink reached out to the FPPC for additional information and didn’t receive an immediate response.
After dinner, discussion turned to questions directed to both Velazquez and Stephens on a range of topics including roads, property taxes, past flooding and housing.
The recall was discussed briefly, when some residents asked Velazquez if it was true that he was cutting funding for fire services.
He said that claim was false and argued that he had helped negotiate a deal with the city of Hollister. He said, as he has previously, that the allegation was a false narrative promoted by his opponents to collect signatures for the recall.
Safer San Benito, the group leading the recall effort, has denied claims that it misled residents in order to gather signatures. The group has said that the fire contract was a “bad fire deal” reached in “secret meetings,” and accused Velazquez of attacking and disrespecting public officials and firefighters.
Asked about the town hall, Safer San Benito co-chair Stacie McGrady told BenitoLink that a free dinner with wine and beer in the middle of a recall campaign “reeks of desperation.”
“He’s never done anything like that before,” McGrady said. “He wouldn’t do it if he wasn’t really worried about his campaign and about being able to garner support in the face of all of the bad decisions that he has made for our county, and the bad results those choices have had.”
McGrady added that it was “not in very good taste” to hold a town hall limited to residents of one district. “His actions on the board affect everyone in the community, not just people in his district,” she said.
Velazquez said he saw nothing problematic or unethical about hosting a town hall exclusively for his constituents.
“What’s unethical? I’m inviting my constituents to come over and have a chat with me,” he said. “It’s January after Christmas. Let’s eat together. Let’s break bread.”
Velazquez said the event cost about $3,500, which he paid for himself, and that he would file the expenses as required by law. He was not specific about whether the costs would be reported under the committee formed for the recall campaign or a possible 2028 campaign, as suggested by the mailers and donation envelopes.
He added that he will likely host another town hall before election day.
McGrady said Safer San Benito plans to hold its first fundraiser in February.
She also said the county’s new campaign contribution limits—approved by the Board of Supervisors this month—put the recall effort at a disadvantage. The changes, which are similar to those adopted in neighboring counties, reduced the maximum donation to a campaign to $2,500 while placing no limits on self-funding.
“The policies that they are enacting are going to make it very hard for the average person, a person who doesn’t have their own personal war chest, to be involved in their community at an elected level,” she said. “Their policy excludes more people than it includes, and I don’t think that’s the intent of our forefathers.”
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