To the Editor:

In my opinion, there are three important issues that the newly seated hospital board (Jan. 2013) should address and resolve as soon as possible.

1. Employee satisfaction: Recent surveys indicate a dissatisfied staff. The causes need to be determined and corrected.

2. Legal fees: Historical legal fees for the district have risen from about $6,000/year to an average of $85,000/year for the last three years. This information was obtained by a request under the Freedom of Information Act. The causes of this huge jump in legal fees need to be determined and a corrective action plan implemented.

3. Restore community faith in our Healthcare District: This will likely take years to accomplish, as many in our community have taken their healthcare needs both north and south on Hwy. 101.

There are several ways to resolve these major issues and three candidates have shown that they are capable and willing to address these issues. Karen Ruth, Judi Gonzales, and Beth Bennett-Allen have my support and votes and I hope yours also. These three candidates have strong business backgrounds and understand what it takes to maintain community support. Maintaining growing businesses while simultaneously raising children speaks to the depth of these three women.

Please vote on Nov. 6 for Karen Ruth, Judi Gonzales, and Beth Bennett-Allen.

Michael Hoffman

Whitethorn