By ALBERT VILLEGAS
Special to the NEWS
It took just under two hours in a closed session of a regular meeting for the San Benito Commissioners to return and take no action on a major part of the city’s charter, including forfeiture of office, qualifications of elected officials, and procedures for their administration and enforcement, among other things.
That executive session during an Aug. 18 meeting came after elected leaders received criticism and some advice and guidance from residents regarding their recent meeting actions, making it blatantly obvious that their decisions are sometimes predetermined because of the ill feelings of the elected leader sitting next to him.
That was the conclusion some drew based on their word choice during public comments at the meeting.
Visitors at these meetings have three minutes to speak about anything, as long as it is not an agenda item.
“I am a lifelong resident of San Benito. However, at the moment, I am ashamed to call San Benito my home; I am ashamed of your behavior. The people of San Benito voted you in, hoping things would improve. Instead, we get grown men acting like little kids. If your kids were acting the way you are, would you be proud, or would you also be ashamed?” said Esther Rivera Hernandez. “I recently started attending the city commissioner meetings, and I am appalled by the behavior I am seeing.”
“I understand that you may not agree on everything, but you have to learn to work together for the betterment of our city. I feel like I see a mayor and a wannabe mayor fighting each other.”
Three months into their term, community members are already voicing their concerns, with those matters heard during the meeting.
Mike Travis said that if he could, he would seek public office, but at this time in his life he cannot, so he sang the praises of others who can.
“Again, as I said two meetings ago, thank you for being here in my stead, because I don’t have the gumption, where I am in life, to represent us here in San Benito,” Travis said.
He praised City Manager Carlos Yerena, who was appointed by the commission at last meeting by a split 3-2 vote.
Yerena had served as interim for the past two months; and, in applying for the full-time post, beat out another finalist.
The City of San Benito, which often uses social media to provide its citizens with updates, has yet to make an official announcement of his appointment.
That didn’t deter Travis from welcoming him with open arms, and Yerena sat next to him as he spoke.
In fact, Yerena, the city manager, has continued to sit next to City Attorney Eric Flores during meetings. It was customary to see former city manager Fred Sandoval higher on the dais in the chambers, usually alongside a mayor.
The seating carousel continued at the next meeting, with Place 1 Commissioner Ricardo Perez, Jr., now seated two seats farther from Mayor Pete Galvan, who remained in the center, and Mayor Pro Tem Jose E. Navarro staying put to his left. Place 3 Commissioner Victor M. Gonzalez now sits to Mayor Galvan’s right, with the far seat now occupied by Place 2 Commissioner Daniel Cortez, Sr.
The seating change reflects how the Yerena appointment went, with Galvan and Navarro voting against it.
“I want to go on the record, not in a private conversation. I congratulate you on receiving the vote. I pray that you work together with the mayor and the commissioners,” Travis said, looking in Yerena’s direction. “I read in the paper that everybody has their ask of you. I have a general ask that you work in harmony and unison. And I understand that not everybody agrees on everything, but we can maintain decorum and conduct ourselves in a civilized manner without getting unruly.”
He ended his turn speaking, saying he doesn’t think a city manager, regardless of qualifications, should share the same duties as the director of San Benito’s Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
Eddie Loa said he spoke on behalf of another resident when he asked who appointed former mayor Rick Guerra to a seat on the EDC Board of Directors.
“I’m advocating for a San Benito resident who wishes to remain anonymous due to concerns about possible retaliation. It’s happened before.”
Commissioner Perez moved to appoint Guerra, with a second from Navarro. The 4-1 decision passed, with only the mayor voting no.
“San Benito belongs to its residents, not to small groups or to people with influence or connections,” Loa said. “If something is being done correctly, explain it to the public. If something is wrong, fix it.”
Ricardo Madrigal understood the wording on the agenda regarding the executive session item.
“Removing an elected official is different from disciplining an official.”
“Removal does not only affect the individual; it affects every voter who cast a ballot to put that person into public office,” Madrigal said. “Their choice should be respected unless there is a clear or lawful basis for the forfeiture of that office. The council should proceed with extraordinary caution before it nullifies the results of an election and disenfranchises the voters.”
Commissioners entered executive session at 6:57 p.m. and returned at 8:51, only for Mayor Galvan to say, “There will be no action.”
If what residents shared with elected leaders in their own words hours earlier had any effect, it is unknown.
It’s certainly Madrigal’s opinion that the public should have known what was discussed.
“I urge the elected official in question to exercise his right to request a public hearing rather than allow this matter to be deliberated in executive session behind closed doors,” he said. “There’s broader concern about how politics sometimes operates in this city. Elected officials may share political views and work together. The government suffers when a group slates together and becomes more important than independent judgment. A healthy governing body should welcome disagreement. Independent thinking is not a problem simply because one refuses to toe the line.”
It is widely believed that the executive session item stems from Galvan excusing himself from a prior closed-door session that concerned the hiring of a city manager.
Hernandez added: “It’s clear that whatever the mayor wants, the rest of you are going to shoot it down. I’m not saying everything the mayor says or wants is right, and I’m not saying the rest of you are wrong, but don’t behave the way you are. Work together and act civilized.”