A board member should be informed

After participating in the candidate forum sponsored by the Ritzville AAUW in September, I learned more about how uninformed my opponent is on the current issues facing East Adams Rural Hospital District. For a board member that has served 10 years and been a part of reviewing contract negotiations and approving hiring contracts, I would expect my opponent to know what was in those contracts.

When asked if mileage was being paid to out of town employees and if so how can this be justified, her answer was, “I am not privy to some of that information.” She addressed the maintenance man then said, “as far as any of the other employees I have no idea.”

I would expect a board member that participated in reviewing the hiring contract and voting with the board unanimously to approve the contract for the current CEO, to know it included the language that he was eligible to be reimbursed for up to $7,700 per year for mileage.

When asked, what is in the works to immediately cut the excessive spending in our hospital district? My opponent’s answer was, “excessive spending well I don’t know, I am not privy to that information either from the CEO.” She then addressed monies needed to be spent on repairing the boiler and the infrastructure so we can make it through the winter, which she did not consider excessive spending. “The rest of it I really don’t know I haven’t been told.”

A board member, who votes to approve a contract for top-level management positions, must be aware of language contained in those contracts. $7,700 is a very small part of the big picture but if there are other financial decisions that she is voting on that she is not privy to, is she making the right decisions for the future of our hospital district?

An informed board member would be concerned about how to cut the excessive spending and improve the current financial situation that our hospital district is in. Wouldn’t you think she would ask instead of continuing to approve the excessive spending?

I will be an informed, concerned board member and am capable of making decisions necessary to turn this district’s financial picture around. Make a wise decision when casting your vote for East Adams Rural District Hospital Commissioner, Position No. 3.

Facts contained can be verified at: http://www.youtube.com, Hospital District Candidate Forum 12 5.

David McCormick, Ritzville