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Health district bill unneeded

The Spokesman-Review

I sincerely hope that the voters of Spokane County realize that state Sen. Chris Marr’s SB 5812 is simply the Spokane County Democratic Party’s attempt to help the churlish, childish, vituperative attempts of a disgruntled ex-health officer, whose contract was not renewed by a unanimous vote of the Spokane Regional Health District Board, to remake this same SRHD Board.

Since 1997, at the inception of the SRHD, 80 percent of the time there have been two appointed members from the health community. In recent years there have been two doctors on the SRHD Board. Hence no need for the new state law to force two doctors on the SRHD Board. If the Spokane County Medical Society had been so interested in who was appointed to the SRHD Board they would have provided a list of possible appointees. They have not done so.

Any politicization of this situation lies at the doorstep of Dr. Kim Thorburn, the SCMS, Chris Marr and Spokane’s media. This is a local problem that should be settled locally without any interference from the state Legislature.

Margaret Jones

Medical Lake

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