When you mark your ballots and mail them in before Nov. 8, please select Mary Alice Heuschel as Hospital Commissioner of Public Hospital District #1 (Valley Medical Center). Although this is a low-profile election, selecting the right hospital commissioner is crucial to healthcare in South King County. Mary Alice’s experience, endorsements, and lack of conflicts of interest make her the best candidate.

Mary Alice Heuschel is employed as the Superintendent of Renton Schools, a position she will obviously retain if elected to the Commission because the Hospital Commission is part-time. In fact, former Superintendent Gary Kohlwes also served on the Hospital Commission while being a successful superintendent. Mary Alice is the only candidate with experience managing millions of taxpayer dollars, and the only candidate who has stood up for taxpayers and patients at commission board meetings.

Just look at Mary Alice’s endorsements, the fact that these individuals and groups put their trust in her is a testament to her capabilities and qualifications: the nurses of Valley Medical Center, the Renton and Kent firefighters, local mayors, various doctors and public officials, groups such as the Boeing Aerospace Machinists, the King County Labor Council, the Women’s Political Caucus of Washington State, the Renton Chamber of Commerce, and many more groups, individuals and community leaders in Renton and Kent.

Mary Alice’s opponent is a doctor with a private clinic that is in competition with Valley Medical Center. It is not for me to say whether his private clinic will affect his ability to serve Valley patients, but a conflict of interest is a concern and should doctors oversee themselves?

Mary Alice Heuschel is knowledgeable about issues facing Valley Medical and she is an independent leader who is prepared to and will fight to protect public health services without conflicts. I’m urging you to join me in voting for her as Commissioner of Public Hospital District #1.

Sabrina Mirante

Kent