Troubled by close ties between Ledford campaign and PeaceHealth | Letters

I hope islanders and local media take a deeper look and consider the consequences of this type of campaigning.

October 27, 2015 6:10 pm

(Editor’s note: In the print version of this letter, Dehlendorf incorrectly interpreted in-kind donations listed on the PDC website that were from various individuals as being in-kind donations from Wilson Strategic. There is nothing on the PDC website to indicate that Wilson made any in-kind donations.The portion of the letter that refers to that has been removed.)

A public office is a public trust. At what point is that trust broken? I certainly don’t trust Jenny! Just follow the money in the Nov. 3 elections to the hospital district board to see why. According to Washington State Public Disclosure Commission filings, Jenny Ledford has taken in more than $24,010, far in excess of her opponent Monica Harrington’s $6,035.

Much of that has come from a few donors. It’s also been revealed that Ledford’s public relations’ and marketing, including expensive mailers, is being done by the same firm that handles PeaceHealth’s public relations.

A major part of Ledford’s responsibilities if elected would be to oversee the administration of the 50-year subsidy agreement that turns over our tax dollars to PeaceHealth.

The close ties between PeaceHealth and Ledford’s campaign raise very troubling questions about her abilities to fulfill her responsibilities as a public servant and to put the needs of islanders first. Wilson Strategic, the public relations firm in the Seattle area, is currently touting its work for both Ledford and PeaceHealth on its website.

How could Ledford, who touts her business skills, have done something so egregious as to put her campaign in such an untenable position? What kind of people think it’s a good idea to brag that they do strategic work both for a private entity and the public official who would be overseeing a long-term multi-million dollar contract with that entity?

I hope islanders and local media take a deeper look and consider the consequences of this type of campaigning. I believe this recent development provides the public with even more reasons to vote for Barbara Sharp, Bill Williams, and Monica Harrington for commissioners of San Juan County Public Hospital District #1 in the Nov. 3 elections.