A NURSE'S OATH -- ACCOUNTABILITY -- TRANSPARENCY -- TO IMPROVE HEALTHCARE IN TRI CITY HEALTHCARE DISTRICT

By Charlene (Gertz) Anderson, R.N.

"I will endeavor to fulfill my rights and privilege as a good citizen and take my share of responsibility in promoting the health and welfare of the community. I will be active in assisting others in safeguarding and promoting the health and happiness of mankind."

As a North San Diego County Community Member for the past 29 years, I am deeply committed to battling our region's growing healthcare crisis.

Our Hospital needs to focus on sound fiscal management, recruitment and retention of qualified RN's, maintaining safe staffing levels, and an accountable management who will work to provide healthcare for our community, especially our children and elderly populations.

This will require dynamic leadership from the future Board of Directors so that Tri City Medical Center can continue to operate successfully.

The current hospital administration's history of bad decisions, including three failed Bond Measures, illustrates that Tri City Medical Center has made some poor decisions which puts the hospital at risk.

In Fact -- to even entertain the idea, concept, or notion to close our beloved communities hospital doors, and to strip our District of a vitally needed asset -- is not only irresponsible, but would be an immoral outcome.

As a Board member for Tri City Medical Center, I promise you that I will provide:

A voice for patients, respect for employees, and a visionary leadership for our Tri City Healthcare District's Medical Center.

I PROMISE TO YOU --

I promise voters that if elected, whatever else my priorities may be and whatever other challenges may arise, you can count on me for the following commitments to open government and freedom of expression.

• I will be second to none in seeking to know, understand and comply with the laws requiring open meetings of public bodies and citizen access to public records, as well as the First Amendment's guarantees of free expression, especially on matters of public concern.

• If I should err concerning such issues, it will be on the side of transparency in government and liberty of communication.

• When I am told that a governmental meeting must be closed or information withheld, I will demand from staff or legal counsel a clear and public explanation of the law that forbids such openness.

• If the law instead gives public officials discretion to open a meeting or a record, I will demand a convincing and public explanation of why the public interest argues against such access.

• I will advocate, and lead the effort among my peers to enact, a sunshine ordinance or policy that is more accommodating to citizens' desires for public information and involvement in the process of government than is strictly required by state law, especially where that law has unjustifiable loopholes, unforeseen gaps, uncertainties or needless limitations.

I make this pledge in asking for your trust, because trust begins with experience, and you cannot experience what is done secretly or with misdirection or surprise.

I respect your need for both the facts and the chance to speak to them, and that respect will guide my every act in office.

From the bottom of my heart,
Charlene Anderson, RN

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