I was disappointed to see that candidate Mary Alice Heuschel was able to have two lengthy letters published in both the Kent and Renton Reporters.  When I see who is endorsing her I question the direction she will be voting.  I know in the past that the group she is affiliated with has consistentently voted to spend more money and as a taxpayer. I’d like to see someone on the Valley Medical Hospital Board of Commissioners who is not going to automatically be part of the spending gang.  I’m tired of seeing my taxes go up!

Mary Alice Heuschel should be spending her time on her schools, not a hospital board. She has a failing school to deal with and like most other districts she has a large budget deficit.  The taxpayers in her school district pay her too much money, about $242,000, including benefits, for her to be splitting time between her schools and the hospital.  As a school district employee myself, I would not be happy if my superintendent was off at a hospital board meeting during the school day when he should be making sure our kids are learning.  She claims she is supposed to do community service, but she should do it on her own time, not the student, school employee, and taxpayer’s time.  She also has intimate political and professional ties to Valley’s administration that question her independence.

I am casting my vote for Jim Grossnickle.  Unlike the other candidates, Jim is completely independent of the Valley administration and will truly be our voice on the hospital commission and alliance board.  Jim is committed to financial responsibility and open and transparent government.  He will fight to ensure that hospital decisions are behind closed doors by unelected bureaucrats.

Kari Linder

Kent