Editor,
The contest between Whidbey General Hospital candidates Bob Born and Georgia Gardner was of little interest to me until I read Dr. Gabe Barrio’s letter to the editor attacking Born. It reminded me of why people are disillusioned with politics.
Dr. Barrio’s labeling of Born as “caustic” and “Trump-esque” was the pot calling the kettle black. His letter addressed no issues of substance or positions that Born advocates. Instead, he accuses Born of driving away physicians, “blaspheming” the hospital, and “chasing freedom of information.”
The doctor’s title and writing skills don’t mask the personal attack and mudslinging that his letter represents.
Personnel problems at WGH are a matter of public concern. Along with low employee morale, they point to underlying problems with management and administration. All can affect the quality of health care.
Of course “privacy rights” should be protected, but not used as an excuse to deflect public scrutiny. Freedom-of-information laws ensure our right to know what tax-supported institutions are doing — and failing to do. Those who disparage their use are those who want to keep the public in the dark.
I’m reminded of my work with Gardner on a committee appointed by the Port of Coupeville to evaluate its contract with the Greenbank Farm Management Group. Gardner chaired our committee until, without warning and before our task was complete, she left. She wrote a letter stating that the contractor had unspecified “errors and omissions” in financial statements and tax filings. She mailed it to the commissioners’ homes and stated she hoped that it would not be subject to our open records laws.
The Port properly made her letter public and the contractor wanted to know the specifics so it could properly respond.
Port records are clear. Gardner never provided the requested information — not to the contractor, committee, the Port or to the county auditor, when asked to look into the matter.
I replaced Gardner as chair of the committee and, over her objection, shared what little information I had with the auditor. His limited review of the contractor’s books uncovered no problems of concern.
It’s the actions and proposed actions of candidates that we need to consider, not personalities. We need public officials who are above-board and unafraid to openly voice and defend their viewpoints.
As voters, we need to practice civility and meaningful dialogue as we go through the process of choosing them.
Rick Abraham
Greenbank
