I didn't attend the meeting tonight but heard about what happened after; this represents MY opinion, and does NOT necessarily reflect that of my hub who told me the facts of the vote. The vote was 6:1 to make Chip Harrison president, the motion being brought forth by Ron Hankins. John Parker was re-elected to be vice-president. Karen Burroughs voted in as board secretary. 

My opinion about this. I quit going to board meetings for the most part some time back because of the highly unprofessional behaviour of both Chip Harrison and Ron Hankins.  I had heard, informally, that Ron Hankins really wanted to be the board president so its somewhat surprising to me that he would vote for Chip Harrison, who has failed so miserably at running an orderly and fair board.

Harrison and Dr Peters

I mean, at one of the meetings which I personally call a Hate Fest, people lined up to throw personal attacks at board members, including one man who THREATENED the board. Did Chip stop them or insist they behave with some kind of decorum? Nope.

And that includes the Best family.

But then maybe Ron Hankins wants to continue being the surly curmudgeon who throws out falsities for crowd approval and believes he looks good by comparison. Or maybe he didn't want to put himself forward and risk humiliation by losing. Or maybe he and others made a calculation that Harrison is a weathervane stooge who can be easiliy manipulated. Who knows? I already knew my hub wasn't interested in being secretary again and I joked to him beforehand that maybe, given the mysogyny on that board, they'd make Karen Burroughs the secretary since she's the sole woman. Er.....

I am very sorry I voted for Chip Harrison initially. I was one who was against having a hospital district, although I DO want a hospital here, and, as you can see from what Chip Harrison said when he went to be elected, I believed he represented what I thought about things or maybe I would have voted another way.. He clearly doesn't.

Here is the text of the letter and what Chip Harrison ran for office promising

Fellow Taxpayer

For those of you that don't know me, let me start by telling you a little about myself. My name is Chip Harrison and I have lived in the immediate area for over 40 years. I am 50 years old and a contractor here in Glen Rose. I have been married 32 years to Regina who is a nurse with Texas Health Resources at Harris Southwest (ICU). Our older son David lives in Colorado and is a contractor (class of 2000). Our Younger son Chris is in High School (class of 2016) and plans to become a Doctor.

I have been opposed to the Hospital District from the beginning for one reason, we have not in the 20 plus years of us owning the hospital been able to break even. Cleburne, Granbury and Stephenville hospitals need no tax dollars to say in business, so why do we? I believe as long as we have a Board in charge that feels taxing us is the best way to provide healthcare in Somervell County nothing will change. We will have to work hard and find a solution to make this Hospital self-sufficient and profitable. The only promise I am making to you as a candidate for the hospital board member is this "Taxing the Citizens to Somervell County to support a business is not fair to us the taxpayers and has to stop". Our county taxes are higher than Hood, Earth and Johnston Counties even before counting the 10.5 cents we pay to the Hospital District

There were over 900 taxpayers that signed the petition (that's where I got your address, someone in your home signed the petition) to dissolve the Hospital District. The current board used our tax dollars, hired an Attorney and refused what you called on them to do. I think the election last May to form the Hospital District was full of misinformation and scare tactics. I think it is time we elect a new board to bring about fresh ideas and move toward a goal of a free standing hospital that doesn't need to rely on tax dollars to survive.

There are  candidates out of the 18 running who worked together on the petition against the new tax. A vote for the other 12 candidates is a vote for what I believe to be more of the same rhetoric. I know you get 7 votes, but my hope is that you only cast 6. Here is a list in order as they appear on the ballot that is against the new tax. If you cast your other vote it will help the Pro-tax candidates.

5. John Parker

6. Chip Harrison

8. Paul Harper

13. Eugene Brode

15. Jim Willis

15. Jarred Hankins.

Early voting starts Monday April 28th at the specialty clinic located next to Best Value pharmacy. The General election is at City Hall on May 10th. The only way we can change this is if all 900 of you get out and vote. Last election we lost by only 2 votes and it has cost us ever since and I believe it could get much worst. 

Thank you for your support

Chip Harrison.

I'm going to repeat again how disturbed I was to hear that he voted NOT TO HONOR A CONTRACT. Who does that? 

I was at a city meeting recently, which was extremely GREAT to attend and was told by someone that that person didn't attend hospital board meetings because of the lack of professionalism and failure to follow Robert's Rules of Order. That is CHIP'S FAULT. It's pretty dang bad when people who are CITIZENS in this county don't want to attend meetings because the president can't or won't control the boors in the crowd, as well as the belligerent board members such as Ron Hankins. But that's how it is. I'd rather find out the facts from my hub and others who attended the meeting, and then watch video or hear audio when it's available to finish forming an opinion. 

Now I want to make something very clear. I speak for myself and MY opinion and nobody else. I am a voter and I can be disappointed and disgusted that Chip Harrison was voted in BECAUSE I wanted him to do what he said in that letter above he would do. It's been a year. If anyone wants to know what my husband thinks or feels about this, that person(s) should ASK HIM because this is NOT his thoughts, but mine, so please do not be stupid enough to try to attribute what I say, because I CAN, to anyone BUT me.