By Voters to impact key issues confronting Los Altos Hills, El Camino Hospital District and Los Altos School District

Town Crier Staff Report

Is Los Altos Hills’ new town hall design a mission-style community enhancer or a budget-draining monument to council egos? How will the rebuilding of El Camino Hospital’s main tower affect its quality medical care and its bottom line? How will the Los Altos School District fare if Measure H’s call for a $333 increase in the annual parcel tax is not heard?

Questions such as these are put to the test as campaigns for Los Altos Hills City Council, the El Camino Hospital Board of Directors and the Los Altos School District’s Measure H head for the finish line, the Nov. 5 election.

The local races all stand to have great impacts on their constituencies.

Los Altos Hills is facing a number of important - and controversial - issues such as the current debate over designs for a new town hall, a revised map documenting the town’s pathways system and dueling open space initiatives between the current council and local environmentalists.

In each of the three above instances, council critics accused the present council of not listening or reacting to their concerns. Five candidates are vying for two seats on the council. Challengers Bill Kerns, Janet Vitu, Dean Warshawsky, Breene Kerr and Steve Hubbell are running for the two seats being vacated by Toni Casey and Steve Finn.

The El Camino Hospital District is enjoying a financially healthy period after its integrated delivery system disaster of the mid-1990s. New CEO Lee Domanico has managed to keep operating expenses in check without compromising patient care as the hospital recently reported its best bottom line - $29 million in the black - in its 42-year history. Satisfaction surveys among patients, doctors and staff remain high.

El Camino needs to stay in good standing as hospital officials prepare to rebuild the main hospital tower to comply with state seismic requirements. Incumbents Mark O’Connor and David Reeder are running for their seats along with two challengers, Laura Ferrer and Bill James.

The Los Altos School District is paying the price for the state’s $20-plus billion budget deficit since approximately 80 percent of its budget comes from the state. Hence, the inclusion of Measure H, which calls for an increase in the locally supported parcel tax.