The Coalition for Orcas Health Care is pleased to announce its fifth Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, March 14, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Eastsound Fire Station. This will be a second opportunity for Orcas residents to meet many of the candidates running for Public Hospital District Commissioner. At the last candidate meeting, three candidates could not attend. Also, Steve Hulley, one of the candidates for position #4, retracted his candidacy for personal reasons. (Though his name cannot be pulled from the ballot, he stated he would not accept the position.)

The PHD proposal on the ballot for the April 24 special election includes 5 at-large commissioner positions. Each candidate has filed for one of those positions. During the election, voters will decide whether to approve the PHD and will also vote for a candidate for each position. If the PHD is approved, the winners of the five positions will form the new PHD Board of Commissioners. The winner with the fewest votes will serve until the next general election, the next two winners will serve until the second following general election, and the two winners with the most votes will serve until the third following general election. Thus, a rotation will be established for future commissioner elections.

“We were very pleased with the response to the last Town Hall meeting where candidates answered many questions from the community and we are gathering still more questions for this next meeting,” said Dale Heisinger, a coalition member.”

For those who could not make the last meeting, a transcript has been posted at https://www.coalitionfororcashealthcare.com/town-hall-meeting-2-23-2018.

Coalition members hope for a large attendance at the March 14 Town Hall meeting, and asks readers to spread the word to neighbors and friends.