A LOOK AT SMHD BOARD INCUMBENTS
The Southern Mono Hospital District features three incumbents and a challenger.
The incumbents would suggest if you’re happy with the status quo (SMHD is building a new $140 million wing without having to go to the voters for a bond measure, because the district is in excellent finamncial health), vote for the incumbents – Ryan Wood, Laurey Carlson and Alec Clowes.
This week it appears we have room for two profiles. And will save the Clowes (pronounced Clues) profile for next week.
Ryan Wood
Incumbent Ryan Wood, a local attorney who has served on the Southern Mono Hospital Board for six years, is seeking election this fall.
Wood served from 2014-2018 and then joined the board again in January, 2023 when he replaced Dave Anderson, who resigned his seat when he became Mono County District Attorney.
Wood grew up in Mammoth, the son of former Mayor Rick Wood. He did his undergrad education at UC-Santa Barbara, and then graduated from the Fowler School of Law at Chapman University.
He said he passed the bar on a Thursday and moved back to Mammoth that weekend.
His wife Sarah also grew up in Mammoth (the daughter of Cindy Butner). She owns Blazing Shears salon. The couple has a one-year old child.
Wood’s principal motivation for remaining on the board is to help shepherd the $140 million North Wing project to its conclusion.
The project was necessitated by seismic requirements.
As with any large project, there have been differences of opinion regarding size, scope and services.
Last week, in her candidate interview, challenger Jennifer Burrows was critical of the current board’s decision to limit the number of hospital beds in the new building to just 18 (an increase from the present 13).
But Wood says an increase in beds would also lead to an exponential increase in cost, and “we almost never get to capacity as it is. I know she’s been vocal. The fact is, it’s a done deal.”
He said that even if Burrows won election, the decision on design/beds cannot be revisited at this point.
As a larger point of order, Wood questions just how many doctors/nurses should be on the SMHD board – given then potential for intertwining of district business decisions and personal interest. “The current board meshes well … we come from different backgrounds. Our diversity makes us better.”
He has some concern about the number of medical personnel on the board, as they are unavoidably self-interested.
The two board members not up for reelection are Dr. Yuri Parisky and retired nurse Joanne Hunt.
Ms. Burrows’ (a nurse herself) husband, Dr. Craig Burrows, served as the hospital’s Chief Medical Officer before he was ousted from the position nine months ago by Hospital CEO Tom Parker.
So Wood also has some concern regarding Ms. Burrows’ motivation to run.
“People get on boards and want to micromanage … that is not [the hallmark of] a successful board.”
Wood believes CEO Parker is doing a great job (Clowes and Carlson would agree).
Wood says the SMHD has traditionally had a local attorney serve on the board, from Dave Anderson to Rick Liebersbach to Judge Ed Forstenzer.
Yes, the board has in-house counsel, but Wood thinks having a legal background helps.
Over the past two years, Wood did have one major break with his fellow board members when he opposed the district’s decision to discontinue labor and delivery services.
“I was blown away at the amount of support for L & D [in the wake of the decision] … I must have had 25 emails and calls. I know people didn’t want it to close …
I’m prepared to be on the short end of a vote. You don’t win all the time as a litigator. But I’ll never back down from doing what’s right.”
Laurey Carlson
Laurey Carlson is running for her third consecutive term on the Southern Mono Healthcare District (SMHD) Board.
As an incumbent, Carlson benefits
