Seasoned board to lead SVDH

After taking an early lead in the Sierra View Local Health Care District Board of Directors race, Dr. Jasvir Sidhu kept going and never looked back until the race was complete.

And when he did, he was well ahead of everyone else, including multi-term incumbents Richard Hatfield and Brent Gill, who came in second and third in the popular, crowded race that attracted three incumbents, three doctors and a local ranch manager.

Sidhu finished the race with 6,213 votes or 21.94% of the votes; Hatfield with 4,649 votes or 16.42% of the votes; and Gill with 4,415 votes or 15.59% of the votes.

All three winners expressed gratitude for the votes.

Sidhu, a physician who has served the community for 26 years, said his experience should help the board and the hospital as it provides for the people of Porterville.

“Dr. Sidhu has served as Chief of Staff for the past year and we’ve worked good together,” Gill said. “Serving on the board will be an expansion of the positive relationship we’ve had over the past year.”

Gill also expressed appreciation for the confidence people had to return him to the board.

“I’m looking forward to serving on the board the next four years and working to improve and better the hospital to provide better medical service,” Gill said.

And, as the hospital heads toward challenging times, one thing will help — the years of experience being brought to the table by the seasoned group.

“I see the next few years as being very crucial and am glad I have the previous four years experience to carry into the next few years,” Gill said. “There’s going to have to be changes in the delivery of medical services provided to allow the hospital to survive, and for the public to have a quality and reliable medical service provider.”

Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1045. Follow her on Twitter @Avila_recorder.