I sent the following to the challengers:
Gentlemen, congratulations on your successful filing of candidate papers for the Peninsula Healthcare District Board of Directors. I especially noted that Incumbent Navarro did NOT file a candidate statement. That gives the two of you a clear advantage.
As a long time minority member of the Sequoia Healthcare District seeking resolution of the “transitionary “ status of our districts, it is my hope that the two of you will be elected, and help me establish a dialogue between our Districts and other stakeholders.
Both Healthcare Districts have been, and are being, scrutinized by the Grand Jury (See attachment), LAFCo (RFP’s for Municipal Service Reviews) Web Link the Little Hoover Commission Web Link the Legislative Analysts Office Web Link Assembly and Senate Committees, etc.
The Association of California Healthcare Districts (ACHD) Web Link in response to the challenges from the Little Hoover Commission, as well as from the Assembly and Senate Committees, the ACHD Board of Directors established a Working Group comprised of the leadership of Healthcare Districts statewide. The goal of the Working Group is to review the changing role of Healthcare Districts, enhance accountability and improve transparency. That group generated a response to be presented as written testimony to the Little Hoover Commission on August 25. (View on the CalChannel) This is an excerpt:
In terms of the Legislature’s role in addressing concerns with Healthcare Districts, or any special district, we have strongly suggested that the Legislature refrain from legislation addressing a concern about a specific Healthcare District until a local process and dialogue has taken place. We have expressed our strong concerns with legislation aimed at dissolving or otherwise managing a District without a local conversation first. Doing so undermines the role of LAFCOs at the local level and bypasses the important stakeholder process that allows for more informed decision-making.
If you run as a team, with a view towards resolving the status of the districts, I will support you.
Yours for transparency in government,
Jack Hickey
