Editor,

Rob Born supporters’ statements that Georgia Gardner is Democrat-backed are a manipulative ploy to conjure “us vs. them” sentiment and garner Republican votes for Born. Not only are these statements false but they are intentionally divisive and aimed at obliterating any and all attention to substantive issues.

Gardner is a CPA with proven long-term community service activity in a number of roles, including that of a current hospital commissioner. In that role, she has consistently focused on seeking the best possible solutions for ensuring that WGH functions as well as possible in service to all the people of Whidbey Island, not an easy task given the context of the current state of the healthcare industry in this country.

Born has demonstrated no qualifications for this position and his only community activity appears to be a vitriolic, abusive, and destructively critical blog against WGH, using narrowly selected, inadequately analyzed and poorly comprehended information. On more than one occasion, Born’s vicious personal attacks on hospital physicians and staff in service to his vendetta against the hospital have denied our community the valuable services of competent, caring professionals who have left the island as a result of these assaults. In addition, Born’s activities have cost the hospital thousands of dollars that could otherwise have been used to improve services and quality of care.

My choice is clear. I will opt for the candidate with credentials who has shown dedication for our community rather than a bullying ego with a bullhorn. My vote goes to Georgia Gardner.

REBECCA CLEARY

Langley