The Body Politic
At 77, Nancy Wilson talks about the district’s turbulence and controversies with a grandmotherly generosity. She recalls having to cut programs after the bankruptcy and speaks with pride about helping return the district to fiscal solvency. And she rejects the notion that the bankruptcy was her fault.
“I was not personally responsible,” she told the Journal. “There’s been a lot of time spent going over board records, trying to come up with assumptions and accusations. The administration had a lot of closed meetings I wasn’t aware of.” She paused, then reasserted, “I don’t know why that would be my fault.”
Wilson and Kirby say it couldn’t have been their fault since the board is responsible for hiring and firing only the chief administrator — currently Fortuna resident Debbie Scaife, who’s retiring in June. The chief administrator and the human resources department are in charge of employment for rest of the staff, Kirby said.
“That is a flat-out lie,” Cherney countered. His haircut complete, Cherney returned the Journal’s phone call from the confines of his parked car. With proselytizing fervor, he read from local healthcare district law in the California Health and Safety Code, which states that health district boards do indeed have the authority“to determine the number of, and appoint, all officers and employees and to fix their compensation.” Cherney said the board has simply passed the buck to the paid staff.
Upon reflection, Wilson later admitted the board probably does have that authority. “We’ve never looked at it that way,” she said. “I think, abstractly, the board could do that, but we wouldn’t want to.”
Therein lies the problem, says Cherney. With his chosen candidates in place, he promises that the board would reclaim its rightful powers and set the district off in a new direction.
Not if Wilson and Kirby can help it. “Nancy would like to have gone down the road,” Kirby said. “But she feels like me: If we let Darryl get any more power, (the district) is gonna go downhill.”
Regardless of the outcome, Kirby feels that the all this election hubbub will ultimately have a positive effect on the SHCHD. “It’s good,” he said. “People are starting to pay attention. I doubt we’ll ever again have an uncontested election.”
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Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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THREE Comments
Comment / By Bunny Wilder / Oct. 16, 2008, 9:53 p.m.
“Or “nastier,” as the case may be. As the politicking gloves come off and the verbal blows gravitate southward, it seems appropriate somehow that what may be the nastiest, most pugnacious political melee in the county is going on down in SoHum, where five candidates are duking it out for two seats on the board of the Southern Humboldt Community Healthcare District (SHCHD).”
I beg to differ. The ONLY one getting nasty and agitated and crazed is Darryl. Kirby is not ranting, Nancy is not ranting. When they talk everyone can tell they are the sensible, down to earth responsible people who have brought back the hospital from the brink. There is no Melee. Just an election. Darryl is really in it just to mess with it. He loves this stuff. How about a debate?
Comment / By Cathy Miller / Oct. 18, 2008, 2:52 a.m.
I’ve been in agreement with Darryl on many issues in the past, but he’s wrong about David Kirby and Nancy Wilson. They are our two most experienced and dedicated board candidates and we are very fortunate that they are willing to run again. I worked for the Healthcare District during its most difficult time in the mid-90s. There were several factors that led to SHCHD’s troubles at that time, many of which were common to the vast majority of rural hospitals trying to survive in our country’s healthcare system. No doubt mistakes were made. But ultimately, had it not been for Wilson’s and later Kirby’s level-headed decision making, SHCHD could have very easily gone the way of rural hospitals all over the US - out of business. It would be great if Darryl, whose heart is in the right place, would use his considerable local fundraising and organizing talents to work with the board and the staff in a unifying way.
Comment / By Karen Ralsten / Oct. 19, 2008, 11:35 a.m.
Darryl wants the board to have the power to hire and fire all staff?He says the board now leaves it to the paid staff.Well,Darryl,what do you think a human resources dept does?They have the expertise in health care and a day to day interaction with the employees and supervisors.Why would we want someone who meets once a month and would only be around for a few years to have access to all of our personnel files and take the HR job away from department supervisors and the HR dept.Thankfully, Nancy and Kirby and most of the other board members know where the board’s priorities are.