Robinson and Brown were within a few votes of each other for
second seat
Gilroy – Voters clearly chose to re-elect incumbent trustee Kent Child to the Gavilan Community College District Board of Trustees, but the competition for the second open seat on the board was simply too close to call by press time.
Incumbent Elvira Robinson and challenger Dee Brown were within a few votes of each other with Brown in a slight lead by press time Tuesday, but that figure seemed to change each time the results were tallied.
To make things more complicated, voters in both San Benito and Santa Clara counties were able to choose who would represent Hollister on the board – and despite her high standing locally, Brown was dead last in Santa Clara, making the race impossible to call.
Child was ebullient about the results Tuesday night, which also happened to be his wedding anniversary, and was glad to see fellow incumbent Robinson also doing well.
“I’m very pleased of course that the elections are going the way I’d hoped they would,” he said. “The whole process has been very rewarding and I’m grateful that the voters have supported me.”
Though Child ran as an incumbent this year, this was also his first time campaigning for office – the board appointed him last year to fulfill another Trustee’s term. Child banked on his 30-plus years as a student, teacher and administrator at Gavilan to win this race.
Child has said his priorities included ensuring the district’s continued financial stability and broadening options for senior citizens looking for personal enrichment, particularly as the baby boomer generation prepares to retire.
Three challengers stepped forward this year to compete for the board seats of Hollister’s two Trustees: Angie De La Cruz, Reba Jones and Dee Brown.
All three challengers attributed their decision to run in part to Gavilan’s plans to establish a satellite campus in San Benito County that will one day expand into a full-service campus. In January, Trustees voted to purchase an 85-acre parcel of land off San Felipe Road and adjacent to the Hollister Airport, but the site was unpopular with many residents.
Robinson, the second incumbent, was campaigning for her fifth term in office. She emphasized her 16 years on the board, coupled with an extensive legal background, to curry the voters’ favor.
“I voted for Robinson because I know she’s been working hard,” voter Oscar Gonzalez said.
Deb Smith of Gilroy and Laura Perry of Morgan Hill ran unopposed to keep their seats.
