Originally the Sequoia Hospital District, they got out of the hospital business when Art Faro, then CEO of Sequoia Hospital ran up a $29,000,000 deficit. That led to a voter approved bailout sale of the hospital in 1996.
In 1996 the voters of the district approved Measure H that, among other things, sold some assets of the district, including the hospital, to Catholic HealthCare West (CHW), a private non-profit organization. By this sale, maintenance of the hospital became the responsibility of CHW.
Sometime after the 1998 election, the District morphed into a healthcare district, continuing to collect an obsolete hospital tax and assuming a philanthropic role to dispense taxpayer assets. Two Civil Grand Juries (2000-2002) characterized this as "inappropriate" and "never presented to voters for their approval". They further stated "The grand jury believes that property taxes for district taxpayers should be reduced unless district voters approve expenditures for purposes not described in 1996 Measure H or the 1946 ballot measure."
In November of 2002, I was elected to the Sequoia Healthcare District Board of Directors on a platform to act upon the Grand Jury's findings. Today, I am leading a TEAM of candidates which, when elected, will control the 5 member board. We will bring about an orderly shutdown of this obsolete district.
Visit www.SmartVoter.org to view all candidates for the 3 seats up for election.
Jack Hickey
Hickey, Graham and Stogner for SHCD 2010
www.XSHCD.com
