A GUIDE FOR VOTERS
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3 Advertising supplement to the Whidbey News-Times, The Whidbey Examiner and South Whidbey Record
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2015 Voters Guide • Advertising Supplement
Whidbey General Hospital with health care laws and regulations, and being an advocate for a cause or point of view. As a personnel specialist at two 1,000+ employee companies, I have worked to establish fair and enjoyable work environments, hiring and promotion policies based on merit, and generally how to treat employees so that they feel valued and appreciated. As a former Air Force pilot and captain, I know how to decisively make important decisions, and I have been What unique skills do you trained to be a leader.
and restoring fiscal health; (3) Seeking to partner/affiliate with a large neighboring hospital; (4) winning back patients who have gone elsewhere—which will require restoring our reputation. These have been my priorities since I announced my candidacy.
What is the greatest challenge the hospital faces in the next five years?
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
specialists from the mainland.
The hospital is perceived as having a transparency issue. What would you do to address this?
I will try to get elected to the board, for if elected I will freely share public information with the public, thereby All hospitals in the nation ending the non-transparency face the challenge of ecobring to the board? problem at WGH—and I can nomic survival in light of the What are your top priori- spending revolution mandat- do this with or without the As a just-retired trial attorney, support of my fellow comties if elected? ed by the Affordable Care Act I possess knowledge about missioners. (Obamacare). The challenge such things as contract lan(1) Reducing the endless is particularly great for rural guage, having a discriminaemployee turnover at WGH; and Critical Access Hospitals Do you think the hospital tion-free work environment, (2) Cutting wasteful spending (CAH) such as ours, and es- has an image problem how to stay in compliance pecially so if in the next five in the community? If so, years the federal government what can be done to improve it? decides to do away with the Elect generous subsidy we currentIt is common knowledge that ly receive as a CAH. the hospital’s reputation has Mayor Do you think the hospital been sinking for around a should affiliate with other decade, and 2015 has been For Leadership You Can Trust a particularly bad year. It organizations? Why or My experience in business and three terms will take years to turn our why not? on the Oak Harbor City Council make me poor reputation around, but particularly qualified to serve as your Mayor. I am committed to serving all the citizens of our great city and will continue to make thoughtful, wellWe should explore or pursue “breaking from our past” researched decisions and recommendations based on what’s best for the would be a good start. We an affiliation with a large city and it’s citizens. neighboring hospital, though have a new administrative we should not proceed to team, we have the opportuWhen elected I will: enter into an affiliation un• Work to keep the Fire and Police departments fully manned and nity to add new leadership to equipped to do their job. less the offer made is one the board, and we are about • Strive to have a fully open and accessible government. which is in the best interests to construct a new patient • Foster proactive Economic Development that reflects an awareness of what’s good for both business and the environment. of our patients and Whidbey wing, and we can build on • Fully support the US Navy. Island residents. The primary these advantages. The key • Change Oak Harbor’s reputation of being unfriendly to business. reason hospitals around us, • Perform the everyday functions of the city in a professional, to restoring our reputation, honest open manner and around the country, have however, is to make real and rushed to do so is for cost ef- significant improvements to For the last 10 years I have met weekly with the citizens of our community. fectiveness. Secondarily, such our health care system, not Please join me at Whidbey Coffee, I am there every Thursday at 9:00 AM to discuss issues that are important to you. I can always be contacted at partnerships would allow simply launch a public rela360-969-2170 or blandjcampbell@aol.com many patients to be seen and tions campaign. Paid for by Committee to Elect Jim Campbell, 316 SE Pioneer Way #302 Oak Harbor WA 98277 treated locally by medical
Rob Born
✔ Jim
Campbell
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2015 Voters Guide • Advertising Supplement
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Whidbey General Hospital
Georgia Gardner What unique skills do you bring to the board? As a Certified Public Accountant and business owner, I have strong financial experience and skills. My service in the nonprofit sector and for the Government Accounting Standards Board gives me great understanding of the type of accounting required for the hospital. I am able to explain complicated financial issues to lay people. I have extensive experience in compliance issues. My legislative tenure helped me develop excellent skills in working collaboratively. I have experience in personnel issues, including collective bargaining. I have over 3 years experience as a hospital commissioner and I have received extensive training through State Hospital Associations. What are your top priorities if elected? My first priority is to see that we complete our building project to match the promises made to voters in the bond
campaign. I’m watching the finances closely. Second, I am working with the Compliance Committee to build a program that includes every report or procedure for every department or clinic so that we have a master calendar. We need a comprehensive method of tracking requirements to be sure all are timely and complete. Finally, I am working with the Finance Committee to build an accurate budget forecast for future years by which we can chart our financial progress and prepare for proposed funding changes.
that benefits both organizations. “Affiliation” has come to mean merger with another, usually a larger, urban medical center. I feel very strongly that Whidbey General Hospital should remain independent, meeting the community needs as determined by the community itself. WGH is strong, financially secure, and has nothing to gain by losing its independence. I am against affiliation.
What is the greatest challenge the hospital faces in the next five years?
The hospital does not have a transparency issue. All requests for information are met in a timely manner except those that are protected by privacy regulations. We meet all the requirements of the Open
Our greatest challenge will be if the federal government requires a change in our funding scheme. Several are proposed and we have to be ready whichever one is chosen. We are collecting date, refining our service procedures, and increasing monetary reserves to be ready. As the options narrow, we will be able to refine our calculations and enhance any areas we feel are weak. We have to be ready. Do you think the hospital should affiliate with other organizations? Why or why not? We have numerous partnerships with other hospitals or groups of hospitals to enhance our purchasing power, to share legal expenses, to provide education to employees, or to provide services through tele-medicine and soon, telepsychiatry. We have a great partnership with NAS Whidbey
The hospital is perceived as having a transparency issue. What would you do to address this?
Public Meetings Act. Do you think the hospital has an image problem in the community? If so, what can be done to improve it? The hospital does have an image problem and it is something the board has spent much time trying to alleviate. In studying it, we find that people who actually use hospital and clinic services are very positive about our performance. It is the people who don’t that have the negative opinions. The board members are seeking speaking opportunities with organizations all over the Island; we’re scheduling town meetings; and we’re increasing our press releases. We welcome any and all suggestions to help us with this problem.
MAKE SURE YOUR VOTE COUNTS! INFORMATION ON RETURNING YOUR BALLOT: Ballots must be postmarked no later than Election Day at 8:00 pm. Please check with your local Post Office to clarify the last pickup of the day. State Law requires a ballot must have a postmark on or before Election Day (RCW 29A.40.091(4)). If a ballot is received with a postmark on it that is after Election Day, it will not be counted. ADA Compliant Ballot drop boxes are available 24-hours per day from the time ballots are mailed to voters. They will close promptly at 8:00 p.m. on election night. DROP BOXES ARE LOCATED AT: Island County Election Office - 400 N Main Street, Coupeville Island County Auditor’s Office - 1 NE 7th Street, Room 105, Coupeville Oak Harbor City Hall - 865 SE Barrington Drive, Oak Harbor Trinity Lutheran Church - 18341 SR 525, Freeland Ken’s Korner Shopping Center - 4141 SR 525, Clinton Island County - Camano Annex - 121 N. East Camano Drive, Camano Island Need additional information about voting and/or elections? Contact:
elections@co.island.wa.us or call us at 360-679-7366 Monday through Thursday between 9:00am and 4:00pm
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2015 Voters Guide • Advertising Supplement
Oak Harbor Mayor ship at City Hall. Effective leadership over the next four years will reestablish the City’s credibility, restore morale and cohesiveness among city staff and Council, oversee successful completion of our essential waste water treatment plant, and develop the overall infrastructure plans needed for our City.
Bob Severns What is the single greatest issue facing Oak Harbor today and over the next four years? The lack of effective leader-
How do you plan on increasing morale among city staff and stop the revolving door of city employees? The mayor needs to comCONTINUED ON PAGE 5
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
I don't see just one issue as more important than any other. There are several, ie; day to day city operations, Economic Development, not enough housing to meet the need, staff morale, and the relationship between the Mayor’s office and the City Council, just to name a few.
Jim Campbell What is the single greatest issue facing Oak Harbor today and over the next four years?
How do you plan on increasing morale among city staff and stop the revolving door of city employees? I believe we have a good management staff and do not see any need to make CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
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SEVERNS, CONTINUED FROM 4
municate, participate and be present at City Hall. I will respond directly to our employees’ valid concerns. And I will lead by example and not through fear and intimidation. I have a proven track record of sound, effective and inclusive leadership and management.
The police union has voiced concerns about the department’s administration. Would you do anything to address this? I will address these significant concerns by conducting a complete analysis of the department’s operation and administration, to determine what is working and what is not. I will ask for help from outside sources in accomplishing this review, and its results will determine the nature and extent of any changes in policy or procedure, or other corrective action.
Given the increasing costs of utilities, do you think the utility tax that goes to the arts should continue? Why or why not? The average household pays approximately $3 per year in
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utility tax to support the arts. We should continue to fund local art through this minimal tax on utilities. The benefit that our community receives from this minimal expense greatly outweighs the cost.
What would you do to encourage economic development? Economic development is a top-drawer issue. I will conduct a listening tour directed to the “stakeholders” in our community, and will commit to researching incentives to encourage new businesses. I will examine the City’s permitting processes for existing and new businesses.
Do you think the city’s sewage treatment plant should include a large training or community space? Oak Harbor needs a community/conference center. However, the overriding need today is a new waste water treatment plant, delivered on time and at the best possible cost to our rate payers. For this reason, I cannot support inclusion of a training or community space as part of this project.
Sustainable Growth:
that allows Langley to continue to be the “Village by the Sea”
Economic Diversification: Create opportunities and allow for less reliance on tourism
Demographic Diversification: Jobs and housing opportunities for young people and families With Gratitude: ✔ Pam Schell
✔ Fred and Shannon McCarthy
✔ Frank and Janet Ploof
✔ Rene Neff
✔ Jennifer and Sieb Jurriaans
✔ Jim Sundberg
✔ Fred and Sharon Lundahl
✔ Tim Leonard
✔ Paul Sarkis
✔ Jennifer Marks
✔ Neil Colburn
✔ Ron Kasprisin
✔ Val Easton
✔ Russell Sparkman
✔ Bob Waterman
✔ Bernita Sanstad
✔ Sharon Heath and Simon Frazer
✔ Lorinda Kay
✔ Callahan McVay
✔ David and Holly Price
✔ Chris and Leslie Evans
✔ Bill and Susanne Paulson
✔ Bruce Allen & Jim Balkowitsch
✔ Duane and Ruth Den Adel
✔ John Lawson
✔ Gretchen Cole
✔ Nancy Rowan
✔ Matt Hoar
✔ Bill and Karen Nesbeitt
✔ Chava Hill
See additional information on our website: www.callisonformayor.com Sponsored by the Committee to Elect Tim Callison 533 2nd Street, Langley, WA 98260
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CAMPBELL, CONTINUED FROM 4
changes. I will do my best to improve staff morale. The police union has voiced concerns about the department’s administration. Would you do anything to address this?
This is a item that has been between the Mayor and Staff. I will first investigate this issue and based on what I find develop a plan to resolve any problems. Given the increasing costs of utilities, do you think the utility tax that goes to the arts should continue? Why or why not?
I am not opposed to arts being developed that depict Oak Harbor and its history. The money given to the arts fund is taken from the utility bill. It is not an extra added tax to the utility bill.
2015 Voters Guide • Advertising Supplement
What would you do to encourage economic development? The city has recently hired an Economic Development ( EDC) person. I plan to encourage that person to work closely with all Island County EDC offices. I will also encourage that employee to be very proactive in doing this job. I feel in order to get more businesses and jobs in Oak Harbor economic development is a recruiting job and not a job where we wait for them to contact us. Do you think the city’s sewage treatment plant should include a large training or community space? In light of the costs that are forecast for the treatment plant I am against the training/Community center. There are several places in Oak Harbor that can be used for these purposes.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Measures on the ballot INITIATIVE MEASURE NO. 1366 concerns state taxes and fees. This measure would decrease the sales tax rate unless the legislature refers to voters a constitutional amendment requiring two-thirds legislative approval or voter approval to raise taxes, and legislative approval for fee increases.
INITIATIVE MEASURE NO. 1401 concerns trafficking of animal species threatened with extinction. This measure would make selling, purchasing, trading, or distributing certain animal species threatened with extinction, and products containing such species, a gross misdemeanor or class-C felony, with exemptions for certain types of transfers. ADVISORY VOTE NO. 10 The legislature imposed, without a vote of the people, oil spill response and administration taxes to apply to crude oil or petroleum products
transported by railroad, costing $17,000,000, for government spending. ADVISORY VOTE NO. 11 The legislature imposed, without a vote of the people, the marijuana excise tax on medical marijuana sales, costing an amount that cannot currently be estimated, for government spending. ADVISORY VOTE NO. 12 The legislature imposed, without a vote of the people, additional taxes on motor vehicle and special fuels costing an estimated $3,707,000,000 in the first ten years, for government spending. ADVISORY VOTE NO. 13 The legislature increased business and occupation tax revenues and excluded certain software manufacturers from a retail sales tax exemption, without a vote of the people, costing $1,449,000,000 for government spending.
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Langley Mayor capability to determine if there exists a health issue – evidence that rabbits are carrying disease or might otherwise transmit disease to people or pets. That would have to fall to the County for their determination and The City currently does have recommendation for mitigation. an ordinance (8.12.010), However, there is a high dealready containing this langree of emotional attachment guage: to the rabbits and the enforcement and/or remedies available The following things, places, would have to be consistent acts, animals and fowl are with the community wishes. declared to be public nuisances, Additionally, an education pronamely: cess will have to be undertaken Animals and fowl (excluding dogs and cats), which constitute to continue to effectively control them long-term. a menace to the public health, safety or welfare while on or off We are not alone in facing this challenge of a ballooning intruany property owned or occusive or native species populapied by any person. tion – Ann Arbor, MI is trying So, to have standing in this to deal with a deer problem; issue the City would have to Boulder, CO is dealing with a show that those conditions exprairie dog issue; the Florida ist. The City does not have the Everglades is dealing with Burmese Pythons. We should look to their examples for guidance about what and/or not what to do. district, and Island County, in the case of the fairgrounds. The City may not have justifiable cause to act unless the rabbits are doing damage to Cityowned property.
Tim Callison
How should Langley address its rabbit woes?
This is a private property issue…if damage is being caused to gardens, parks, playing fields, buildings, etc. then the responsibility falls on individual homeowners, the school
What will you recommend to solve the city's bluff/marina access issue? A funicular? I’m not persuaded that there’s an access issue. No data has been presented to me to establish the need. I’m open to exploring further; however, I have serious doubts that a funicular is the best possible solution. If elected, I will seek the guidance of City Council on whether further research is needed to document the need or whether the Port and Langley Main Street may now be meeting it. Are Langley’s business regulations too stringent, and do they have anything to do with the city's reputation as being business unfriendly?
I’d like someone to cite a case where the City code is too stringent. The objective, after all, is to protect public health and safety, and it is the responsibility of City staff to implement the code that has been approved by Council. If elected, I will support a review of relevant development-related or business-related code IF examples can be found where they unreasonably obstructed or hindered new development or new businesses. Further, I will ask that a simplified Business Start-up guide be produced for prospective businesses in the general form of a step-by-step checklist with links to relevant City forms and documents. I do believe the City can be more pro-active in supporting new business development…and still serve the best interest of all residents and visitors. My observation is that market factors are most often responsible for the pace of growth or the success of a business…not government regulations. The latest data from Langley Main Street Associations show a net of 4 new businesses in 2014 and a net of 9 new businesses so far in 2015. What can the city do to lower the cost of living in Langley, particularly how would you address the city’s often criticized utility rates? The City can do very little if anything about general costs of living like rent, real estate, groceries, and other common goods and services sold in CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
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Langley Mayor ers are charged for a minimum of 7000 gallons for two months and yet they consistently use town. In regard to utility rates… 40-60% of this amount yearI’m not yet an expert, but my round! This is no way to enresearch suggests that the courage and reward conservaformula for covering the operat- tion. If elected, I definitely will ing, maintenance, and capital explore options for rewarding improvement costs of the waconservation and making sure ter and waste water systems that high-volume users pay their is complicated by the fact that fair share of the costs to operate both systems were designed and and maintain the system withbuilt to serve a greater number out which they could not live or of customers than are currently do business here. purchasing these services. With more customers, the cost/cusWhat is the single greatest istomer will come down. Histori- sue facing Langley today and cally, the City has not required over the next four years? homeowners within the City limit to connect to the sewer if In any City government, even they have a functioning septic one as small as Langley, it is system. Perhaps this is somea disservice to reduce the fothing City Council will want the cus of local government to a next Mayor to explore. single issue. As some wise man CALLISON, CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
Regarding the water system… it pains me that some custom-
said, “everything is related to everything” so an issue rarely
stands in isolation or can be addressed individually without affecting or being affected by other issues. There is far too much for even a conscientious, engaged candidate to possibly know before being elected and spending time in City Hall. Of course, priorities can shift in a hurry due to circumstances beyond the Mayor’s or the City’s control. The key is whether the elected officials have the leadership experience to address the situation effectively. In my campaign I have focused on three themes that I think are frameworks that address most of the challenges facing Langley – sustainable growth that maintains the charm of the “Village by the Sea”, improved economic diversity, and demographic diversity. Having said that, there are two major areas that are not under the control of the City, which
could have major impacts in the coming years – the Marina and the Fairgrounds. Managing these issues to Langley’s benefit will rely on good working relationships with the County and the Port Commissioners. A number of transparency issues have been voiced in recent months. Does something need to be done, and if so what? I certainly will agree that transparency is a good and desirable thing and that the City should fully embrace a commitment to transparency. If elected, I will be a loud and persistent voice for full and clear communication with the community. I will also lead on the issue of adapting the latest technologies when developed to continue to improve access while reducing costs to the City.
VOTING ENDS
NOV. 3