By Clyde Noel

With only a two-minute opening speech on issues confronting the El Camino Hospital District, one minute to answer questions, and one minute for closing, each candidate had comments that were crisp and to the point.

Sponsored by the League of Women Voters in the Mountain View council chambers last Thursday, four candidates provided commentary for the two open seats on the El Camino Hospital District Board of Directors. The fifth candidate, Philip Green, dropped out, but his name will appear on the official ballot.

Mark O’Connor spoke first. With eight years as director, he appreciates the true value of the hospital since it is one of the top 100 hospitals in the United States.

“With shrinking revenues and a demand for increasing care, the hospital still has a strong financial rating,” O’Connor said. “We have no debt and have at least 150 days cash on hand, and that provides a strong financial rating. Especially if we have to borrow monies to rebuild the hospital.”

As an appointed incumbent, David Reeder has served as a board member for the past 3.5 years.

“I have found this experience both challenging and informative and have acquired a deep appreciation of what makes our health care system work, including the difficulties hospitals and physicians face,” Reeder said. “As a board member, it is my responsibility to see that the hospital provides the highest quality health care to residents of the district.”

Bill James, a Mountain View patent attorney, is running for a seat on the board for the first time. He is committed to preserving the good things at the hospital.

“I have reviewed the draft master plan, and I believe it provides a good starting point for further discussion on what the hospital must do to be prepared to meet the future health care needs of the community,” James said. “The hospital should consider the needs of the children in the area, and it could do a better job in patient care.”

Last to speak was Laura Ferrer. Running for a seat on the board for the first time, she told the audience she works with people in different disciplines and communicates with people from different cultures in Mountain View and can bring that ability to the board.

“The hospital should pay more attention to alternative medicine,” Ferrer said. “Nothing is wrong with the hospital today, but I am interested in a growing shortfall.”

Closing one-minute statements provided the audience a key to each candidate’s thinking.

Ferrer: “I have no problem with the hospital but could make a contribution if I won a seat.”

Reeder: “We need to address the aging of nurses and physicians and start recruiting to maintain a good physician-patient ratio.”

James: “Insist the hospital meet or exceed community and industry standards in all areas of patient care. Retain public accountability and local control.”

O’Connor: “Rebuild the hospital by 2008, develop the master plan, recruit more physicians and nurses and bring in new employees.”

The program was televised by local television and will be shown on the Mountain View and Cupertino public stations at a future time.