Editor,

Some of you might have recently received an online survey for your opinions as to the reasons you chose Whidbey Island as your home.

The majority of us would say we live here for the lifestyle.

That lifestyle, unfortunately, is being encroached upon by advancements of modern society. Perfect example are the advancements in aircrafts that the Navy uses that generate higher levels of noise than those of the past.

For most of us, our health and access to health care are important aspects of our choosing Whidbey Island.

Landowners on Whidbey are essentially double-taxed for health care, as we pay locally for Whidbey General Hospital costs of operations through property taxes and as well to the federal government in the form of income taxes that consume around 20 percent of the GDP and is used for health care.

Our present hospital board is responsible for making decisions that, to say the least, have turned into a community-based political arena of issues that ultimately cost the taxpayers.

Legal costs against employees of the hospital, inability to ratify contracts with Whidbey General Hospital nurses, inability to maintain open and transparent dialogue with the community on issues that effect them are the tip of the iceberg.

It’s time for many of us on Whidbey Island to realize that change is inevitable, and we need to have a hospital board that can address change and challenge and not succumb to the old style establishment of the island.

If we vote for Gardner, the incumbent, what will be different, as she serves on the present board and caters to the old establishment?

Mr. Born, perhaps not a polished politician as some have been made to believe from the letters written by Gardner supporters and previous hospital employees trying to keep the status quo, is a public advocate with an extensive knowledge of the hospital, a legal background and an interest in seeing Whidbey General flourish, become transparent, and meet the health care needs of change that we cannot avoid.

Sooner or later either in this election or the next, we need a leader for reform, and let’s hope that the time is now, as a later one might be just a little late.

Richard Wagner

Coupeville