Why are you running for this office and what 3 major goals do you want to be measured by if you are elected?

Having served nearly 20 years in Emergency Management and as a business owner I saw an opportunity to serve the County and its citizens.

I want to be measured by:

a. Ensuring that quality medical care was given to those needing it.

b. Having an open line of communications with employees and providing them with the materials they needed to fulfill their duties.

c. Being a watchdog, ensuring taxpayer's dollars are spent wisely and kept their tax burden to a minimum.

Do you believe Board members should be allowed to ride along with EMS crews and spend time with Alarm and other departments?

I not only think Board members should be allowed to ride along with EMS crews, but that it should be required. Ride alongs provide Board members with an insight to the care that patients receive from the crews and an insight to the needs of the crews to care for the patients.

Do you have any experience with EMS or medicine?

My only experience prior to becoming a Board member was as a cop and an Emergency Management Officer.

Should the Medical Director answer to the Board?

Yes! 

Should Health Care Assistance Patients be required to have drug testing in order to receive assistance?

Yes. I believe anyone receiving taxpayer assistance should be tested for drugs in order to receive assistance.

Should any first responder injured in the line of duty have their ambulance charges absorbed by the District?

I believe they should. It doesn't happen often, but I believe we owe it to them. They were injured providing a service to the taxpayers and should be taken care of. 

Should salaried employees be paid overtime?  And if so, should their be a limit and how much?

No, that's why they're salaried. If they exceed the normal hours spent working, they should be offered compensation time off, as time allows.

What is your opinion about Merit Pay versus COLA pay raises?

I believe Merit Pay is more suited, to encourage exceptional performance. It rewards those that go above and beyond the norm, rather than everyone being treated the same.  

Is it the responsibility of the Board to monitor the spending of the District and verify expenses?

 Yes it is, and it's accomplished monthly at the Board meting.

 Is it better to build stand alone EMS facilities, co-locate with fire departments, or purchase existing facilities and modify them?

Location of the needed facility is the biggest factor in this decision, which is determined by the the responses within an area over a period of time and the facilities available. Since EMS and the fire departments work closely together, if the stats show that a fire station is close and that there is either space or space can be constructed, a joint facility is desirable. If financially

feasible it is better to purchase an existing facility rather than build one.

Do you support or oppose increasing and broadening the Sales Tax to reduce property taxes? Why?

I believe property taxation to be contrary to the Bill of Rights, and that sales tax should be used, rather than property taxes.

Should Board members have open lines of communications with all employees of the District?

Absolutely! District employees should never fear reprisal when talking to any Board member. While it happened in the past, a Policy was established against it. The Board was very adamant that personnel would be fired if any employee was retaliated against for talking to a Board member. 

Should Hospital District personnel be allowed to carry while at work?

While I totally support the 2nd Amendment to our Constitution, I do not believe our EMS personnel should carry while on duty, for safety reasons.

Do you believe the Board should have access to all MCHD reports and records, excluding patient records?  Why or why not?

Yes. All information requested by Board members is made available simply by asking or a simple written request. FOIA requests are not required. 

The Board is not supposed to micro-manage, but should they trust and verify?

Board members should always trust and verify. We owe the taxpayers of MoCo and  District employees our involvement and oversight in financial and management decisions.

Should District employees have open lines of communications with Board members, without fear of reprisal?  Why or why not?

Absolutely! District employees should never fear reprisal when talking to any Board member. While it happened in the past, a Policy was established against it. The Board was very adamant that personnel would be fired if any employee was retaliated against for talking to a Board member. 

Should Board members have complete access to all areas of the District?  Why or why not?

Yes! The only exception is to our Alarm (9-1-1 Dispatch); however, it is usually accessible.

Should Disrtict employees take home District vehicles and if so for what purpose?

The District has a very strict policy about the use of take home vehicles. 

The CEO has a vehicle as part of his contract. He often has early morning and late afternoon meetings, and responds to emergencies at the campus,

The Medical Director is on call 24/7  and often responds to medical emergencies.

The Facilities Department responds to the Campus and all of the EMS facilities when needed after hours, and the quick response times to those facilities is often crucial to the mission.

Should District employees living out of the county take home emergency vehicles?

No