Veteran’s Day November 11, 2012 +
If their service, dedication and sacrifice is ever forgotten, then every War we’ve been in will truly have been fought in vain. Today, we pause and remember those who have served our country. We recognize our Veterans for their Dedicated and Unselfish Service. Thank You. The Cusimano Family Colonial Mortuary 96 W. El Camino Real Mountain View, CA 94040 (650) 968-4453 “Independent, serving families with Dignity and Respect Since 1957”
• MATTHEW CUSIMANO
FD 1041
SHERRI CUSIMANO
www.cusimanocolonial.com
-PDBM/FXT up with 15,355 votes (17.17 percent). Continued from page 1 “I’m disappointed,” James said, said. “He has made the district but added he felt confident that and the hospital board much the simply having the election better.” would be a step toward improvHowever, Zoglin said he was ing transparency in the district, confident in the two new board as it has raised public awareness members’ abilities, notabout the special health ing Miller and Chiu’s district. More than that, strong credentials. though, James said the “I think that it’s great prospect of having two that the people will have new faces on the board a voice in the hospital meant that new ideas board,” Chiu said. “The could be put forth with first order of business is a motion and seconded to recognize that there in public session, which Dennis Chiu are conflicts of interest he said should inevitably between the taxpayers lead to more transparand the hospital corpoency at the hospital, since ration,” he continued, both new candidates referring to issues raised have stated increasing in reports issued by the openness at the hospital Santa Clara County is a major goal. Civil Grand Jury and The outgoing Alles said the Santa Clara County he wished the new board Julia Miller Local Agency Formation members well in an Commission. “The same email statement sent to conflict that was outthe Voice. lined in the Grand Jury “I want to offer my conreport and the LAFCO gratulations to Dennis report. No matter what and Julia and wish them the hospital said, those well as they begin their conflicts of interest did service to the hospital not go away.” and the community,” John Zoglin Chiu said he would Alles wrote. “While I work to have the hospiam disappointed that tal’s lawyers take another I was not re-elected, I look at what proportion of tax- know that the hospital is in good payer dollars they may legally hands with an elected district give back to the community. Cur- board and three newly appointed rently, the hospital abides by the Hospital Board members. Each Gann Appropriations Limit — a Board member cares about the law that Chiu, a lawyer, is certain hospital, the patients, and the does not apply to the health care community.” district. The limit prevents how As for his future plans, Alles much money the district can give said he will take some time off back to the community from the after serving on the ECHD board money they collect from taxpay- for more than eight years. “I will ers. If the hospital did not have to always be active as a community abide by this law, they would be volunteer, but I don’t have plans for able to give back much more, he now,” he wrote. “What I will miss said. most about the hospital are the Miller said she was pleased many fine people who comprise that there would now be two the hospital — the executives, publicly elected board members physicians, nurses and all employon the hospital district’s board of ees who work hard every day to directors. Both incumbents run- maintain quality health care.” ning in this election were first The board of directors oversees appointed and subsequently re- the district, which collects taxes elected in uncontested elections. from residents living within its On the night of the election, the boarders. The ECHD is charged three challengers all attended a with using that money to fund party hosted at the International community health programs Brotherhood of Electrical Work- and reinvest in the hospital. The ers Union Hall in San Jose, where district covers all of Mountain spirits were high — not just with View, Los Altos and Los Altos Miller and Chiu, but with many Hills, as well as a large portion of of the disparate union members, Sunnyvale and some of Palo Alto as they celebrated President Bar- and Cupertino. rack Obama winning a second The board of directors of the term and watched the progress of district also represents the majorother state and local measures. ity of the hospital corporation’s Even James kept a smile on board, which is not elected. Some his face as he left the ceremony, have said this dual role leads to although he felt confident he conflicts of interest. In the runwould not climb back from his up to the election, all of the nonvote deficit. Ultimately, he was incumbents said they are conright. James ended up coming cerned with this issue, along with in last with 14,746 votes (16.49 other criticisms the board has percent). Incumbent Alles ended faced in recent years.
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■ Mountain View Voice ■ MountainViewOnline.com ■ November 9, 2012