Editor,

I write to bear actual witness about Georgia Gardner, Whidbey General Hospital board commissioner running for reelection.

I have been inside the WGH system representing medical staff since 2009, before Georgia’s term.

I have first-hand knowledge to the efficient, productive contributions of WGH Commissioner Georgia Gardner in and out of the boardroom. She was front and center, along with Gen. Trish Rose and WGH Commissioner Grethe Cammermeyer and local wonder-doc Doug Langrock during the recent successful efforts to pass the bond for our community’s new major addition.

She is warm, inviting and supportive of our community.

When she joined the WGH board, she brought her accounting, training, experience and insights to bear immediately. She continues to ask tough yet clarifying questions which allow us, the non-business trained part of the team, to more clearly understand the issues so the board can make more informed decisions.

Our financial house has been in better order since she came on board. Her financial astuteness has won the praise and admiration of our new CEO, Geri Forbes, and new CFO, Ronald Telles.

This is an exciting time in our changing and improving hospital. Georgia Gardner, you have my vote, and that of many of my physician colleagues. I trust our positive trajectory in our Board, in large part thanks to your participation.

Robert Born is a caustic negative force that gets in the way of real progress we have made and will continue to make in creating an integrated, island-wide medical service system for you, for us, for our community.

It is the best independent public hospital system I have ever been a part of. I am proud to have served with Georgia Gardner and hope to continue to do so.

I appreciate her level-headed approach to all things financial, given a strong history in her financial profession. Her grasp and translation of medical financial language is truly an asset to our hospital’s function and so to our community. Georgia, you have my vote. Born, you need a more productive hobby.

Gabe Barrio MD,

Coupeville resident

Recent Chief of Staff at WGH