Election 2002: Six possible candidates in healthcare district race Election 2002: Six possible candidates in healthcare district race (August 07, 2002)

By Renee Batti

Almanac News Editor

The county civil grand jury's criticism of the Sequoia Healthcare District over its tax support has prompted at least two residents to take out candidacy papers for a seat on the five-member district board -- including a Woodside resident who served on the grand jury.

Voters will be asked to fill three seats on the board, which oversees a district established decades ago to fund and operate Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City. The district was criticized by the two most recent grand juries for continuing to receive tax revenue although it sold the hospital in 1996.

Although no one had filed candidacy papers by Almanac press time, six people had taken out candidacy papers: incumbents Arthur Faro and Dr. Gerald Shefren; and Warren R. Merrill of Woodside, David Rosner of Woodside, David Mohler of Atherton, and Warren C. Gibson of Belmont.

Incumbent Cecilia Montalvo, whose term expires in November, had not taken out papers by Almanac press time. She could not be reached for comment.

Board president Faro "absolutely intends to run," according to Frank Gibson, the district's chief executive officer, who called the Almanac at Mr. Faro's request. Mr. Faro was unable to file the papers by late last week because of a death in the family, Mr. Gibson explained.

Dr. Shefren could not be reached for comment about his intent to run, but he has filed "declaration of candidacy" papers with the county elections office.

David Rosner, who served on the most recent civil grand jury and is a retired tax attorney, said he is "leaning toward" filing papers by the Friday, August 9, deadline. He said he became interested in running as a result of his work on the grand jury, and he opposes the district's continued support by taxpayers although it no longer owns the hospital.

Mr. Gibson said he intends to file papers this week "with the intention of abolishing the district." Mr. Gibson is a member of the Belmont Planning Commission, teaches part time at the University of Santa Clara, and is retired from CSA Engineering in Mountain View, which he co-founded.

Mr. Mohler could not be reached for comment; Mr. Merrill did not return the Almanac's phone calls.

Although the health-care district no longer owns Sequoia Hospital, it is required to oversee the hospital's operation by the private Catholic Healthcare West as part of the sales agreement. Tax revenue to the district totaled nearly $4.5 million in fiscal year 2000-01.