Editor,

I have read letters to the editor regarding the race for District No. 2 hospital commissioner. Many supporters of Georgia Gardner comment on her years of experience as a certified public accountant and her skills in government finances and budgeting. Yet, as documented by the state auditor’s office, the facts speak differently.

A state auditor letter to the hospital’s board of commissioners dated March 27, 2013 says the Hospital District needs to “improve monitoring over the payroll system. Additionally payroll certification and approval process did not comply with state law.”

A state auditor report dated Feb. 18, 2014 states, “the District has not made it a priority to assess the risk associated with its payroll process … By not having adequate internal controls over payroll, there is an increased risk of loss of public funds. Further, the lack of controls can impair the District’s ability to prevent or detect errors and irregularities in a timely manner. The District placed itself at risk for misappropriation or misuse of public resources by not adequately monitoring the payroll processes.”

The Whidbey News-Times reported on June 6, 2015, “It is the fourth consecutive year that Whidbey General Hospital failed to file documents on the state auditor’s website as part of an initiative to increase public access to information.”

Whidbey General Hospital board member Georgia Gardner, a certified public accountant, said that on top of all the other financial documentation required by hospitals, uploading the additional information seems redundant. She stated, “Frankly, if I was running the accounting department, it would be the last thing I would do.”

Gardner exhibits her Whidbey General commissioner arrogance in deciding that she doesn’t have to follow state regulations. Overall the above examples are symptoms of poor governance and it is time to start removing the current commissioners.

I am voting for Rob Born and I encourage you to do the same.

Tom Leahy

Freeland