The race for San Benito County Board of Supervisors District 3 pits incumbent Mindy Sotelo against former supervisor Peter Hernandez in a contest that will shape the county's approach to public safety, health care, road infrastructure, and agricultural land preservation. Both candidates are lifelong residents of the area, and both argue that their experience makes them the right choice for voters when the election arrives.

Sotelo, who has served on the board for over three years, was born and raised in San Benito County. Before taking office, she worked for the Farm Bureau and served on several community boards. Her campaign platform centers on three pillars: public safety, health care, and roads.

"Public safety as a mom is incredibly important to me," Sotelo said. "You can have the best parks in the world, the best roads, all these different things, but if you don't have a safe community, really what does all that mean?" That framing puts safety at the top of her to-do list, linking it to quality of life in a way that resonates with families.

On health care, Sotelo emphasized keeping up with rapidly changing information. "We need to be continuing to make sure that we are staying at the forefront of making sure what all the latest information is," she said. The comment reflects a broader challenge for rural counties where access to up-to-date medical guidance and services can lag behind urban centers.

Roads and infrastructure are another recurring theme. Sotelo acknowledged that District 3 has fewer county-maintained roads than some other districts, but she pointed to progress on arterial routes. "There's been a lot of intention and a lot of work and prioritizing the arterial roads that are coming in and out of San Benito County," she said. "We addressed a lot of those. There is still work that needs to be done. Union Road is being done now. I know there is a delay getting in and out of the county right now."

Peter Hernandez is no stranger to the board. He served as a supervisor from 2018 to 2022, spent four years on the Hollister School District board, and has been involved in local politics for two decades. He also ran for Congress and owns a small business. Born and raised in Hollister, Hernandez brings a longer view of the county's challenges.

Infrastructure is a central issue for him as well. He pointed to specific work he was part of during his previous term. "I was a part of the negotiations when it came to 25 and addressing the roundabout, which was a big issue to our local community on 25," Hernandez said. "That roundabout is the second roundabout in the whole state." He added that traffic issues "are necessarily addressed at the local level," implying that state or federal solutions don't always fit San Benito County's needs.

Health care is another area where Hernandez sees problems. He described a system that creates dependency in rural, lower-income communities. "The inflated Medicare system with too many participants that are depending on whatever the circumstances are financially or whatever," he said. "At a certain point you are creating a dependency for rural communities that are usually lower income communities for them to now depend on this." His language suggests a desire to reform how health services are delivered rather than simply expanding existing programs.

Hernandez also raised the protection of agricultural land as a priority. "There needs to be a stronger evaluation for beautiful farm land, ag productive land, rich soil that is not found in any other region in the state or in the country," he said. "There actually needs to be a higher premium for that." That message appeals to a county where farming remains a major economic driver and where development pressure from the Silicon Valley corridor continues to mount.

Both candidates frame their candidacies around their records and roots. Sotelo emphasized collaboration with state and federal legislators. "I think we need to continue working together with our state legislatures, with our federal legislatures," she said. "We get more work done." Hernandez, meanwhile, stressed the need for a strong relationship with the state. "My goal is to push to have a stronger relationship, a very real relationship with the state of California," he said.

San Benito County sits at the southern edge of the Bay Area, and its District 3 covers parts of Hollister and surrounding rural areas. The county has seen steady population growth as commuters seek more affordable housing, putting pressure on roads, health services, and farmland. The next supervisor will need to balance development with preservation while keeping the community safe and healthy.

Neither candidate offered detailed policy proposals in the available material, but their priorities are clear. Sotelo leans into continuity and incremental progress on roads and public safety. Hernandez promises to return to the board with an emphasis on reexamining health care systems and protecting agricultural land. Both say they are right for the job, leaving voters to decide which vision fits the county's future.