Editor,

Last week I attended the League of Women Voters sponsored candidate’s forum in Langley to assess the candidates running for Whidbey General Hospital commissioner for District 2, Georgia Gardner and Rob Born, and District 4, Nancy Fey and Erika Carnahan.

All I knew about Mr. Born was based on his many vitriolic and vituperative letters to the editor where he constantly aired complaints about WGH and its mismanagement and lack of transparency among other alleged shortcomings.

I found it fascinating how the other three candidates were all quite positive in their views of and visions for the hospital, and each spoke to the changes that needed to be made by the administration and commission.

With two or three exceptions, I felt they were all “on-the-same-page” regarding the future of Whidbey General.

In distinct contrast, Mr. Born presented a picture of the hospital’s financial situation and governance that was quite negative and bleak.

He also displayed a lack of knowledge about the laws governing the disclosure of confidential information for hospital patients and personnel as well as the proper and legal “protocol” to be followed by commissioners.

Based on his past letters to the editor coupled with his negative campaign rhetoric, Mr. Born reminds me of Kelly Emerson. She ran on a very similar platform for Island County commissioner in 2010 and unfortunately was elected.

She was not a team player, wreaked havoc on the board and resigned seven months before her term of office was over.

We have a new hospital CEO and CFO, ground was broken for the new addition to our hospital, and we have a team of commissioners who do work together as a team and in a positive manner.

I dare say we cannot afford to throw our fate to the wind with a naysayer.

WAYNE R. FLAATEN

Greenbank