Who voted for? Brett Nabors, Karen Burroughs, John Parker, Chip Harrison, Ron Hankins, Eugene Brode. Who voted against? Paul Harper

As a citizen and taxpayer of Somervell County, I believe it to be of the upmost importance to research and explore all available options prior to making any decision that may affect increasing taxation to the citizens. I believe we can change the way we currently do business and not tax the citizens of this county the way we currently do or have done in the past. I believe that it is the duty of the Somervell County Hospital District to look at and research all options prior to the implementation of taxation to the citizens of the county. This is not only the moral duty but an ethical obligation of anyone whom is appointed to this board.....

2. Did you support the formation of the district last year? 

NO! ... At the time when we voted, our county had in its hand offers wanting to lease “OUR HOSPITAL,” but the hospital authority board never pursued the offers and instead jumped on the hospital district tax idea......

3. What do you feel is currently the most pressing issue facing Somervell County Hospital District and Glen Rose Medical Center? 

At the present time, we have more than $14 million in debt. At the present time, our hospital does not generate enough revenue or profit to pay the debt back, which makes the hospital less desirable to good companies wanting to lease, purchase or manage it.

We have been doing the same things here for over 20 years with this hospital, and when the plant footed the largest share of the tax, we all ignored the problem. Now we need to bring fresh ideas to the process and explore every idea and possible way to turn a profit.

4. Do you believe taxpayers and local patients would be better served by leasing GRMC to an outside management firm/selling the hospital to a private operator? 

I do believe that taxpayers and patients alike would be better served by leasing GRMC - if we can find the right partner. At this point, I don’t know if they are even out there, maybe we should have been looking all along.

I do want a hospital here in town, what I don’t want is to tax ourselves into the poor house. ....

5. Do you have ideas for increasing profits and cutting losses at GRMC? What are those ideas?

When we leased the nursing home it was losing money, the new company that took it over turned it around in short order. Why then can the hospital not? We are going to have to come up with a realistic budget and a real solution to these problems.

I think as long as we have a never ending flow of tax dollars we will never run the hospital like a business, but a charity. The hospitals in Stephenville, Cleburne and Granbury all make a profit and do not rely on tax dollars. Why do we?

Additionally, we had close to 80 applicants for the CEO position when Marks retired, and we never looked at anyone with experience or the right degree but hired from within and nothing changed 

 Something has changed, though. Was it this?  Chip Harrison voted along with 5 more out of 7 people to raise your taxes. Remember that when he next comes up for election.

More- I at least believe that John Parker has been entirely honest and consistent all the way through. 

I was opposed. I voted against the district. I felt our problems had to do with a lack of management. Taxing should not replace management. I am sure that we must have a district now that debts have been assumed and until we find another way to manage indigent care.

I now hope we can make the operation profitable enough to do all operations without taxes being necessary in the long run.

And Eugene Brode

2. Did you support the formation of the district last year? 

I did not vote for the district, because it subscribed to continuing the excesses and mismanagement of the past. Also, hospital personnel and related personnel said loudly and widely the 0 assertion the hospital would close if the district proposal did not pass. All the commissioners were firmly committed to keeping the hospital open.

The district now gives itself a free hand to tax without any oversight from the County.

4. Do you believe taxpayers and local patients would be better served by leasing GRMC to an outside management firm/selling the hospital to a private operator?

If we have iron-clad assurances that the public will enjoy the same level of care that they have now, I have no compunction against selling or leasing the hospital.