The 2025 Primary - what there is of it with update re hospital board candidate

Well folks, allow me to introduce you to the primary that nearly wasn’t. This is what happens when people, for whatever reason, choose not to run for public office. Nobody runs, so there’s no real election. There are a total of 42 positions up for election this fall – and all of 2 – yep, 2 – of them show up on the primary ballot. That is pathetic. To give at least a small modicum of credit, a number of these positions at least have 2 candidates, who will appear on the November ballot, but not that many. I count 14 challenged positions. That leaves 28 public positions – important jobs – going unchallenged at all. I will say that at least some of the people in those positions are doing a good job and it is probably good that they continue doing those good jobs, but this sad showing tells us that the political system is broken in more ways than we can count. 

I fully understand why people hold back, given the current national political situation. The country is in process of devolving from a Constitutional democracy to – what do we even call this? An oligarchy, a dictatorship, a police state, Brave New World. Hard to blame people for wanting nothing to do with anything like government. But remember: government is “we the people” hiring folks, through elections, to take care of “we the people’s” business. We hire people to make sure the roads are clear, schools are operational, hospitals are working, water districts provide clean water – and all those other functions. And elections are the way large numbers of people get involved in that hiring process. 

I’m re-running once again Marianne’s minimum standards for any candidate:

1) be able to write a coherent sentence. 

2) be able to articulate the job description of the post for which you are filing. 

 3) have sufficient internet know-how (or the funds to hire that know-how) to create an on-line presence.

You will note that of the precious few candidates on the ballot, most have failed this test. 

So, on to the basics:

First, you need to know that you are registered to vote. To check, go to 

https://weiapplets.sos.wa.gov/MyVote/#/

If you’re not registered, you can do that online or by mail until August 5. If all else fails, you can register in person at the 

Island County Elections Office, 400 Main Street, Coupeville, up to 8:00 on August 5, election day.

Ballots were supposed to go into the mail on July 18. Look for your ballot, and if you haven’t seen one by about July  22,  contact the elections office at https://www.islandcountywa.gov/423/Elections-Voter-Registration

For more information call Election Supervisor Michele Reagan at 360-678-8290, micheler@islandcountywa.gov

or Voter Registration Coordinator Scott Works 360-240-5590, Elections@islandcountywa.gov  

So, to make your vote count -

1. Try not to use the US Mail, since new Postmaster David Steiner continues his predecessor's deliberate and planned slowdown. I have to interject this. It seems that now that the USPS has bought a whole fleet of electric delivery vehicles - it plans to sell them off and go back to the old fossil fuel burners. If you really have to use the mail, get your ballot in the mail by the Wednesday before election day, July 30.

2. If you really can’t do it earlier, bring your ballot to the Post Office counter on Tuesday, August 5 during business hours – usually before 4:00 pm. No stamp is needed.

3. Best option: Drop your ballot in one of the ballot drop boxes before 8:00 pm on Tuesday, August 5. 

They are located at:

    Island County Elections Office

    400 N Main Street    Coupeville

    Trinity Lutheran Church

    18341 Hwy 525    Freeland

    Ken’s Corner Shopping Center

    4141 Hwy 525 (at Langley Road)   Clinton

    Langley Post Office, front patio

    115 2nd Street        Langley

    Island County Camano Annex

    121 N East Camano Drive    Camano Island

    Oak Harbor City Hall

    865 SE Barrington    Oak Harbor

Please remember that I would never tell you how to vote. That is your business. I'm just telling you how I intend to vote (or would vote in districts where I can't). You do what you will with that information.

So, here’s what’s on the skimpy primary ballot:

Island County Fire Protection District No. 1 (known as Camano Island Fire & Rescue) -Renewal of Six Year Emergency Medical Services Property Tax Levy 

Will Island County Fire Protection District No. 1 be authorized to impose regular property tax levies of $0.50 or less per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation for each of six consecutive years? 

Yes No

Well, without delving deeply into this one, it seems to me that the continuation of a levy to maintain things like ambulances and other emergency medical services is a bit of a no-brainer. Yeah, this is an important and necessary service on which all the people of Camano rely. Every time I pull over when I hear that siren I think somebody’s in big trouble. These people are doing their best to get to that somebody ASAP to make it better. I’ll cut them all the slack I can. Voting yes to fund their work is part of that.

If I voted on Camano, I would vote YES. 

Whidbey Island Public Hospital District, Commissioner, Position 5

Well, Whidbey Health seems to be the hotbed of contention. There are 3 positions on the board up for election. Two of them have 2 candidates each, so will be on the General Election ballot. And then there’s Position 5. No idea why it is so popular, but there were no fewer than 6 candidates for this one. Two seem to have dropped out, so you get to choose among 4. 

Ballotpedia reports that this is a “special primary election.”  I’m not at all clear on what makes this particular primary ‘special.’  Yay for Ballotpedia for making my job so much easier. Candidates (at least some of them) answer the questions, giving a much clearer picture of who they are and what we may expect of them. I’m relying on that information to fill in at least some of the blanks below.

Dennis Rochier, MD   Retired 2020. Lives in Greenbank. Has been involved as a physician and supervisor for many years, including as Chief Medical Officer at Whidbey Health. He gets right to the point: Whidbey Health is in financial trouble. He wants to see it continue and succeed. He says he’s passionate about quality and efficiency, and sees eliminating waste as a way to accomplish that. 

He stresses the 3 following: 1) the Hippocratic Oath: “do no harm.”  2) comply with regulatory requirements 3) showcase the people and services for which you are responsible.   I definitely like this line: “While I believe this is serious work, I try not to take myself too seriously.”  “First, understand; then provide guidance.” He says he only wants to serve 1 term. That kind of bothers me. Just about the time they figure out what’s going on and who’s on first, comes the next election. “Everyone is entitled to high quality health care regardless of political affiliation.”

Kirk Gaspar, MD. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61576207932609

gasperforhospitalcommissioner@gmail.com

Lives in Oak Harbor. 20+ years in Navy medicine. He also filled in the Ballotpedia survey - partly. Major help. His 3 big issues are 1) finances. He reminds us that recent federal legislation will cut deeply into hospital funding. 2) He has 12 years of experience in senior hospital leadership. He wants people on Whidbey to be confident that when they need it, that care will be available. He is passionate about quality and efficiency in health care. Hmm, that’s only 2 issues. Wonder what happened to the 3^rd. He calls himself a perfectionist, and says that makes him do deep research to assure he has all the facts before making a decision. 

Seems as though he gave up after the first few questions. Wonder why.

And here is what I just received from candidate Gaspar. This explains his previous non-responses, given he was out of contact. 

Thanks so much for reaching out. My apologies for the delayed response—I’ve just returned from a long-scheduled trip to remote Bolivia, where I had no internet access since July 10th. Unfortunately, the timing overlapped with the election season, but I’m now catching up and happy to address your questions.

First, I appreciate your thoughtful blog post. It's unfortunate that the Ballotpedia survey appears to have aggregated my 3 key message responses, so they weren't clearly separated, and I'm happy to address your additional questions above. 

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Why am I running for this position?

There are two main reasons. First, I want to give back to our community—especially by helping our health system be the best it can be. As I near the end of my medical career, this felt like a meaningful and logical way to contribute in an area where I have both passion and expertise.

Second, I believe my professional background uniquely positions me to succeed in this role. As you noted in your blog, my experience as a physician provides valuable insight into how health care systems operate. Beyond that, I spent the last 12 years of my Navy career in leadership roles on the boards of four different Navy medical facilities—experience that directly translates to the responsibilities of a hospital commissioner. I found those leadership roles both rewarding and enjoyable.

---

What do I understand about the commissioner role?

A hospital commissioner is part of a team responsible for strategic planning and oversight of the WhidbeyHealth system. My Navy board experience closely mirrors this, with oversight over strategic direction, finances, and care quality across a range of facilities. I also served in multiple roles on those boards, giving me a broad understanding of different aspects of health care delivery. That background gives me a strong foundation to step into this role effectively.

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How would I address the looming fiscal crisis?

There are no simple solutions, but the key lies in making smart, informed decisions that balance financial responsibility with high-quality patient care. Knowing that funding streams are under pressure, the organization will need to prioritize wisely and explore innovative ways to deliver value.

Some potential areas for improvement include:

• Pursuing new grants and public funding opportunities.
• Expanding Telehealth services to improve efficiency and access.
• Continuously reviewing operations to find cost-saving measures without sacrificing care quality.

Sustainable, data-driven decision-making will be essential.

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What sets my oversight approach apart from other candidates?

I believe my deep familiarity with the health care system—as both a physician and a board member—gives me a distinct advantage. At the time I filed to run, I wasn’t aware that any other physicians or nurses were entering the race, and I thought that clinical experience made me uniquely qualified.

Since then, I’ve seen Dr. Rochier’s submission, and I agree—he’s a strong candidate as well. Where I may differ is in my extensive experience serving on health system boards, as well as my hands-on involvement with Telehealth services, which I’ve been providing for the past five years.

---

Thanks again for your interest. I’m happy to answer any additional questions or clarify further.

Best regards,
Kirk Gasper, MD

Morgan Cooper. Lives on Edgecliff in Langley. She did not respond to the Ballotpedia survey. 

Ms Cooper was appointed in 2023 to fill out the term of retiring Grethe Cammermeyer. I did a fair amount of research back then, which concluded with the following:

Neighbors have reported that Morgan Cooper’s house sported yard signs for all 3 “minivan Taliban” MAGA School Board candidates in 2019. She also objected to something in the Politiblog, calling it “misinterpretation.” Now we have a report, with video, of her enthusiastic attendance at a MAGA skit at the Deer Lagoon Grange Hall. She touts the placement of her yard sign on public property, a violation of election law. Her personal Facebook page features the statement “Love God, family, and country.” 

She ran in 2023 to retain her position on the board. She didn’t make it past the primary. So here she is again. This woman should not be taken seriously as a candidate. She has an agenda, and it does not bode well for Whidbey Health. 

Theodore C Smith.  Lives in Oak Harbor. He did not respond to the Ballotpedia survey. I find a number of hits for him under “Whidbey Island Community Advocates for Refugee Efforts.” He is the treasurer. From what I see these are good people doing good work. Based on what I read in the Voter’s Pamphlet – since I can find nothing else relevant – I am quite favorably impressed by this man. I think he is doing good work in a lot of directions. My major hesitancy is that he has no medical background. I understand that running a major organization is a discipline all its own, whether it is curing people or manufacturing widgets. Still, given the slate of candidates, I am inclined toward one of the 2 MDs who are running. 

Since then I have been told that Mr Smith is in fact planning to move out of the district, so would not be eligible to serve. I have not verified that claim. 

Well, we have an interesting mix here. I see the choice as being between Dennis Rochier and Kirk Gaspar. I am hereby amending my recommendation. I think we have 2 good candidates, and we could do worse than voting for either of them. Fact is, this is the primary, so we'll have a second chance to consider and evaluate in November. I may have to toss a coin between Dennis Rochier and Kirk Gaspar. I think either will make a good hospital commissioner. 

Central Whidbey Island Fire & Rescue, Commissioner, Position 2

Larry Goff  Be aware that I took this info directly from the election pamphlet - which you can/could read for yourself. I could find nothing else.
Elected Experience: Fire Board member six terms for Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. Held position of Board President multiple times.

Statement: Having served as both a career firefighter and an elected Fire Board member, I believe I can provide a unique perspective as a Fire Commissioner for Central Whidbey Fire District. 

My 47-year career was spent in the Fire Service, starting as a seasonal wildland firefighter. Most of my career was with the City of Lake Oswego Fire Department, working my way up through the ranks to become Fire Chief. 

While working as a firefighter for Lake Oswego, I was elected to the Board of Directors for Oregon’s largest fire district, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue. During my 24 years as a Board member, acting many years in the position of President, I navigated many complicated issues including budget approval, fiscal accountability, mergers and approving district policies. 

Continuing the Fire District’s community involvement and trust is a priority for me. If elected, it would be my honor to serve the community as a Fire Commissioner.  Contact: 503-267-4079 goffor@frontier.com

You can read as much as I’ve been able to find in the Voters’ Pamphlet. These candidates obviously do not feel any need to make themselves and their agendas public.  

Christopher E. Chan.  360-914-0137  islanddoug@gmail.com
Elected Experience: Lagoon Point Water District Commissioner 2019 - Present (Board Chair 2023 - present): Coupeville School Board Director 2008 - 2017 (Board President 2014)
Other Professional Experience: The Boeing Company - Senior Industrial Engineer - Retired after 39 Years of Service
Education: Washington State University – Bachelor of Science; Skagit Valley College – Associate of Arts;                                   

Community Service: Volunteer Firefighter / EMT - Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue - 1979 – 2009: Former Central Little League Board Member - variety of positions - 15 years: Coupeville High School Baseball Team - Former Assistant Coach - 5 years
Statement: Being a lifelong resident of Whidbey Island, it has always been important to me to give back to the community I love. 

Central Whidbey Fire and Rescue was a huge part of my life both growing up and into adulthood. I look forward to continuing my involvement in the District as a Fire Commissioner

Scott Austin.    No Information Submitted                                                                                                                                              I found reference to him as Coupeville building official. He is evidently also the Langley building official. I could find nothing else. No statement in the election pamphlet, nothing in Ballotpedia, zip.

Well, I am seriously underwhelmed. If/when someone chooses to run for office, it would be polite to let the rest of us know who you are, what you know about the job you want to take on, and what you expect to do in that job. Of the 3 candidates, only 1 has given us any meaningful information. The second gave us a somewhat irrelevant snapshot. The third is completely missing in action. Given what we don’t know about these candidates, I will be voting for the one who has given us some meaningful information, Larry Goff. 

And that’s it folks. Short and not-so-sweet. Now please do get those ballots returned. And consider either running for office or working with/for someone else who is considering running.