Howard Rosenfeld and Mark Schwinge have declared themselves candidates for the Public Health Hospital District Commission by showing up when a vacancy became available on the commission.

Neither have a history of attending meetings where business of the commission has been held since the beginning of health care business in this county.

The regular meetings have, from the beginning, been attended by persons interested in, and professionally prepared to understand health care delivery by Peace Health, and the oversight of business by the commission.

Howard Rosenfeld and Mark Schwinge have now curiously appeared to fill the first vacancy on the commission. Last week’s newspaper account of their interest in becoming a commissioner does not demonstrate the capabilities or understanding that we recognize necessary for such a seat.

Candidates must understand the operation of a health system, be able to recognize components of health care, be capable of communicating effectively with the hospital organization, and, be able understand how to navigate and solve problems for the commission.

These two persons apparently do not understand the duties of the commission versus the hospital’s community mission of specific health care delivery issues.

Verbiage of their “concerns” does not constitute the mission of the commission. It would be appropriate for them to withdraw from consideration.

D.T. McCarty/Friday Harbor