Hurtado seeks former seat

Brewster – Former one-term city councilman Emmanuel “Manny” Hurtado is once again running for Position 5 on the council now occupied by Don Childers.

Childers was appointed earlier this year to fill the unexpired term of the late Tim Reib.

Hurtado served from 2017-2020. Speaking with The Quad on Oct. 23, Hurtado said his primary reason for re-seeking a council seat is to promote communication with Brewster residents and the city.

“I know there is a disconnect in the community,” said Hurtado. “There’s a big percentage of the community that is Spanish-speaking and nobody seems to cater to them.”

Hurtado said he wants residents to know that their opinion matters.

“There’s this concept that the city has a lot of this power, and they do whatever they want,” said Hurtado, “when the truth is the people have the power, but they just don’t know how to use that power.”

Hurtado said he gained a new perspective of his town once he became a council member.

“Now when I see the city spending money, I know there are a lot of positive reasons for it that people don’t know about,” Hurtado said.

Hurtado and his brother. Martin, own The Armory on Sixth and Main Street in downtown Brewster and the Monse General Store in Monse. He first came to Brewster in 1992 from California and worked off-and-on here until 2000. He moved here permanently with his family in 2016.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483, michael@ward.media