After disappointment one year ago, Alejo boosters finally got their day.
One year ago, a crowd of Luis Alejo supporters stormed out of Watsonville City Council chambers, incensed that their passionate plea that the council name him mayor—or at least mayor pro tem—had been ignored.
Last night, on the eve of Councilmember Antonio Rivas’ final day as mayor, many of the same faces reappeared; city residents, representatives of labor, and of course, Alejo’s mother. “I’m here to support my son,” she informed the council. “I’ll always stand up for my son.”
But instead of a rabble-rousing chorus of 50, the crowd was less than 30, and only nine people spoke. Perhaps the low attendance was due to dampened expectations of a lively fight. The Register-Pajaronian headline that day read, “Alejo Likely to be Named Next Mayor.” It was also likely due to the fact that Alejo, who is running for the District 28 Assembly seat being vacated by Anna Caballero, was able to step into the mayor pro tem title after the unexpected death of Dale Skillicorn, whose selection as vice mayor had so infuriated the crowd one year before. “It’s clear: Luis Alejo for mayor,” said Monterey Bay Central Labor Council president Robert Chacanaca. “I ran for mayor in ’88. Mr. Alejo wasn’t available to work for me then, but perhaps I would have won.”
The council flirted briefly with the idea of selecting District 7 Councilmember Nancy Bilicich mayor, and District 6 Councilmember Emilio Martinez voiced the protestations he made in the Register-Pajaronian opinion page, saying the mayor should be selected based on seniority. “Jan Skillicorn wore a button right that said ‘Skillicorn for mayor’ at his funeral. How dare we let a gentleman sit for over six years on city council and we wouldn’t let him be vice mayor without a deal?” he said. “This is not about Luis Alejo, it’s not about anything but the process.”
Nevertheless, after the vote failed for Bilicich—Caput, Martinez and the lady herself voted yes, the rest voted no—Alejo was elected mayor 5-2, with nays from Caput and Martinez. The councilmembers rose and embraced one another, and the modest crowd broke into unified applause. Alejo pumped his fist, and said “Si se puede” into his mic.
Nancy Bilicich was then selected pro tem, with only Martinez voting no.
District 1 Councilmember Manuel Bersamin produced a document written by former Lieutenant Governor Cruz Bustamante for Alejo’s swearing-in as an attorney years ago. “‘Luis is truly a star,'” read Bersamin. “‘One day, Luis may even be the mayor of Watsonville.’ This was in 2002, and it has come true.”
It remains to be seen what this new title will do to Alejo’s already packed Assembly campaign schedule. At his kick-off party in October, 27th District Assembly Member Bill Monning implored Alejo to concentrate on the campaign and let some of his various obligations drop to the side. “Right now, we need Alejo the candidate,” he said. Alejo—a man notorious for his 2am emailing—just smiled.
