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Politics

Crowded Field Vying For Tri-City Healthcare District's Board of Directors

The Tri-City Hospital District serves the populations of Carlsbad, Vista and Oceanside.
The Tri-City Hospital District serves the populations of Carlsbad, Vista and Oceanside.

Crowded Field Vying For Tri-City Healthcare District's Board of Directors
Voters in North County have the chance to choose who will sit on the Tri-City Healthcare District’s board of directors.

Control of the Tri-City Hospital District's board of directors is up for grabs. On November 4, North County voters will have to choose between eleven candidates vying for five seats.

Tri-City Healthcare District Candidates

Incumbents

Paul Campo

Jim Dagostino

Ramona Finnila

Cyril Kellett

Larry Schallock

Challengers

Laura Mitchell

Louis Montulli

Frank Gould

Jane Mitchell

Rena Marrocco

Bill Fowler

Because it's a public entity, Tri-City Healthcare District is governed by an elected board of directors.

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The Tri-City Healthcare District has had a troubled past. Its hospital serves some half a million people in Carlsbad, Vista, and Oceanside. But three times in recent years, district voters have rejected a bond measure to seismically retrofit the hospital.

The board has had some troubles of its own, culminating with the firing of Tri-City’s CEO Larry Anderson in 2013.

Since then, the board has tried to right the ship. At a recent candidates' forum on Oceanside's cable channel, KOCT, incumbent Ramona Finnila said the board is doing a fine job.

"This board majority has saved the hospital financially," she said. "We have saved the Wellness Center from financial problems. We have opened up the medical office building from a tremendously complicated fiscal arrangement."

Challenger Laura Mitchell contended the board has mismanaged the emergency department.

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"I do believe that it is understaffed," Mitchell said. "It also has problems with bed space, as in, not enough beds. But it has a ripple effect — it’s delaying treatment within the hospital."

Mitchell is one of six challengers who are trying to unseat five incumbents running for reelection.

Moving forward, Tri-City must either retrofit its hospital or build a new facility by 2030. Some argue it would be cheaper to construct a new hospital than to earthquake-proof its current structure.

The current board believes it would be possible to fund a retrofit with federal HUD money, rather than going to the voters again to ask for another bond measure. However, HUD money is only available to hospital districts that make a profit.

The board must also decide whether to sell the 397-bed hospital, affiliate with one of the county’s larger medical systems, or continue to try to function independently.

The 2024 primary election is March 5. Find in-depth reporting on each race to help you understand what's on your ballot.