Editor,

Reading the local newspapers, one finds many one-sided accusations against hospital board candidate Rob Born, who handily won the primary election.

The establishment is in a panic.

The point of the election on Nov. 3 is to vote for the candidate who will represent patients’ and taxpayers’ interests, and not keep the status quo at the hospital, which has resulted in the following:

n Whidbey General violations of state auditor financial disclosure statutes;

n Failure to hold semi-annual “safe nurse staffing” meetings;

n Operating deficit $5.5 million in 2014, 2015 yet to come;

n Inability to retain quality doctors, maintain doctors and recruit replacements. Only two permanent general and orthopedic surgeons are on staff and there are no ear, nose and throat specialists or cardiologists;

n Contract expiring in March for 165 unhappy registered nurses;

n Taxpayer monies were wasted on unnecessary attorney legal fees over the past four years, and we’re already at over $525,000 again this year

It is the present hospital board that has stood by and watched us get to our present position, and we need a change.

It is time for the hospital to have proper management, vision and a mentality. We need to deal with healthcare not from a micro perspective but from a macro perspective, because of the economic dynamics of healthcare today.

I would recommend that you as a voter and a taxpayer choose a candidate you believe will serve your interests and use professional standards to reach them.

Richard Wagner, M.D.

Coupeville