Libertarians after Washington Hospital old guard
Two challengers run against three incumbents for spots on board

It's David meets Goliath this year on the Washington Hospital Board of Directors, with two Libertarian would-be reformers — Gwen Todd and Steve Strayer — running against three incumbents.

The longest-serving board member, Michael Wallace, wants to preserve Washington's independence from chains such as Sutter, and to oversee the hospital's seismic upgrades and expansion of its emergency room, 40 percent of which is being paid for by a $190 million bond voters approved in 2004.

The vice chairman of Fremont Bank, Wallace would focus on keeping the hospital competitive financially by attracting patients with cutting-edge medical techniques.

That would allow Washington to generate funds to offset the money it loses on treating uninsured patients and through sinking Medicare reimbursement rates, said Wallace, who was first elected 16 years ago.

Likewise, incumbent Bernard Stewart supports keeping the hospital financially strong and independent, making sure the bond construction projects are completed on time and within budget, and providing state-of-the-art medical care.

Washington's ability to remain profitable while many other hospitals in the state are losing money is a result of good management, said Stewart, elected to the board in 2002. He said he would look for alternative sources of funding to deal with the declining Medicare and Medi-Cal reimbursement rates.

"It is a tremendous challenge," he said.

Jacob Eapen, thenewest board member, wants to improve access to health care and transparency of government, and to promote public health issues. The Fremont resident favors expanding health care for the uninsured.

"People sensitive to these issues have to be at the helm, or they will only get worse," said Eapen, elected to the board in 2004.

Challenger Todd, a Fremont office manager and political novice, acknowledges that her chances are slim.

However, Todd is determined to be a public advocate because "one of the most important issues facing us is our health care," she said.

Having been uninsured herself, Todd said she wants an insider's perspective on the health care system to find out why it is not providing adequate help to the public.

"In order for a society to be healthy, individuals must be healthy," she said.

Her fellow Libertarian Party member, Strayer, decided to run for a board seat to make the hospital accountable to the public.

Strayer said he would actively seek out people who have had a bad experience at Washington and try to keep such things from happening again.

"Few people want to hear about problems, but I do," he said. However, he would reject a universal health care plan, he said, calling the concern for the rising number of uninsured Americans "overblown."

Strayer said the strongest quality he would bring to the board is common sense.

"I would ask how something benefits customers," he said. "I want to make this hospital function for the people."

Washington Hospital Board of Directors

Jacob Eapen
Age: 54
City of residence: Fremont

Education: Master's degree in public health, University of California, Berkeley; residency at Stanford University

Background: Pediatrician, Alameda County Health Services; public health commissioner, Alameda County; adviser to "Every Child Counts" Commission, Alameda County; elected to the board of the Association of California Healthcare Districts.

Position: Improve access to health care; invest in preventative health care through outreach and education; reduce disparities in the rates of immunization, obesity, diabetes and hypertension.

Bernard L. Stewart
Age: 64
City of residence: Fremont

Education: Bachelor's degree, San Jose State University; Doctor of Dental Surgery, Northwestern University Dental School

Background: Private dentistry practice in Fremont

Position: Keep the hospital financially strong and independent; make sure the bond construction projects are completed on time and within budget; and provide state-of-the-art medical care.

Steve Strayer
Age: 63

City of residence: Fremont

Education: Bachelor's degree in aerospace engineering, University of Kansas

Background: Engineering consultant

Position: Favors the interests of taxpayers and patients above the medical establishment; seeks feedback from patients who have experienced problems while seeking care at Washington.

*Gwen Todd
Age: 49

City of residence: Fremont

Education: Theater studies, Marietta College, Ohio

Background: Office manager, Realty World-Viking Realty

Position: Increase transparency of governance; be a public advocate for patients; direct resources to benefit the community.

Michael Wallace
Age: 58

City of residence: Fremont

Education: Bachelor's degree, Ohio State University; master of business administration, University of Santa Clara

Background: Vice chairman, Fremont Bank

Position: Safeguarding hospital independence; rebuilding Washington Hospital to comply with new, strict California seismic standards.

Source: The Argus