FISCAL SOLVENCY -- LEADERSHIP, COURAGE, AND SUNSHINE PLEDGE

By Kathleen Sterling

"In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce and a brave man (woman), hated and scorned. When his (her)cause succeeds however, the timid join him (her), for then it costs nothing to be a patriot." Mark Twain

We need to rebuild the trust of the community -- the District's future is predicated on this alone. With earning back the people's trust, Tri City's future, and its programs, services, ambulatory surgery center, urgent care center, recruitment and retention of physicians, nurses, employees, reconstruction, retrofitting and financing will come into place.

We need to have a new set of eyes to look at the District's books, including a forensic audit -- for the District has not changed their current auditor in the last 20 years, which is not considered best practice in the accounting industry.

We must know exactly where we are financially making decisions on real numbers not projections particularly in light of the current economic situation nationally, regionally, and locally.

Some of our finest institutions were built as house of cards, a ponzi game, which ultimately brought them down -- I do not want this to happen to Tri City.

We must retain competent employees who deliver optimum, continuum care; Assure consumers' doctors and nurses have the freedom to advocate for their patients' care and safety without fear of retaliation; Maintain and retain the public's expected level of services for example rehabilitation, mental health, and pediatrics.

We must be accountable by ensuring and promoting transparency of all that we do; Elevate Tri City's ethics and integrity to new standards; Insist Tri City is compliant with all laws and regulations; Protect consumers from waste, fraud and abuse.

Courageously, I will continue to raise questions at Tri City that no one else will ask and initiate discussions with ALL affected groups including the public -- I will continue to speak on CONSUMERS and PATIENTS behalf when they've not been heard, advocating for their rights and protections.

Often times myself and another board member have been the lone voices raising concerns, asking questions and working on building bridges between those divided concerns while pursuing fairness and balance.

Tri City belongs to the people and ultimately it is the board's responsibility to protect the district's assets.

My tenure on the board has been a challenge. Unfortunately the board majority, the CEO, and his management team are uncomfortable with accountability -- asking questions makes the process accountable and transparent.

The board majority are individuals who have chosen to interrupt the people's right to ask critical questions in order that we may be able to make informed voting decisions.

These board members, strategically are argumentative, rude, and disruptive when your lone voices are asking questions while conducting the peoples business -- then these same board members make references to contentious meetings.

Ahh yes, the people, and your lone voices at the dais are not content with the current board majority of rubber stampers especially when sitting at the dais, observing more than once board members paying little attention to the deliberations, but rather prefer reading a novel, or reviewing tomorrow's business, or calendar on their blackberry at the dais.

Yes, inertia has set in at the board.

I ask you, is it any wonder why the lone voices of reason, accountability, and transparency may not be content with those who have lost their moral compass?

People's lives are dependent on the board's decisions.

THEREFORE

I promise voters that if elected, whatever else my priorities may be and whatever other challenges may arise, you can count on me for the following commitments to open government and freedom of expression.

• I will be second to none in seeking to know, understand and comply with the laws requiring open meetings of public bodies and citizen access to public records, as well as the First Amendment's guarantees of free expression, especially on matters of public concern.

• If I should err concerning such issues, it will be on the side of transparency in government and liberty of communication.

• When I am told that a governmental meeting must be closed or information withheld, I will demand from staff or legal counsel a clear and public explanation of the law that forbids such openness.

• If the law instead gives public officials discretion to open a meeting or a record, I will demand a convincing and public explanation of why the public interest argues against such access.

• I will advocate, and lead the effort among my peers to enact, a sunshine ordinance or policy that is more accommodating to citizens' desires for public information and involvement in the process of government than is strictly required by state law, especially where that law has unjustifiable loopholes, unforeseen gaps, uncertainties or needless limitations.

I respect your need for both the facts and the chance to speak to them, and that respect will guide my every act in office.

Sincerely, Kathleen Sterling