President, Nehalem Bay Health District
For the last six years I have had the honor to serve on the Nehalem Bay Health District board, most of that time as president of the board. During this time fellow board members and I made a conscience decision to move the Health District from a long-time role as a landlord to being an advocate for better health and senior care in north Tillamook County.
The board developed a strategic plan and is acting on that plan. The bond measure the Health District has placed on the May 16 ballot is a direct result of public input and board planning which identified having improved quality and access to health and senior care as key priorities for the community.
The District has also become a stronger collaborator and consensus builder with other community and governmental organizations. The Health District’s initiative to address the chronic shortage of workforce housing for health care and other essential workers resulted from collaboration with Care Tillamook and involves open and ongoing communication and cooperation with the city of Wheeler.
I’m both humbled and honored to have support for my re-election from community members who engage regularly in the Health District’s work. Dianne Bloom, a retired nurse and clinical nursing specialist, is one such endorser who in a recent letter praised the “strong performance” of the Health District board. Tillamook County commissioner Erin Skaar, a champion for creating more housing solutions in the county, wrote recently in an endorsement of my re-election that she “had the pleasure of working with Marc Johnson in his role as Chair of the Health District. Through his leadership and vision the District has done amazing work.”
Obviously, I hope voters will endorse the bond measure that will fund the Health District’s future-focused plan allowing the community to enter a new era of health and senior care and begin to address workforce housing needs of health care and other essential workers.
My family relocated to the north coast a decade ago. Like most of our neighbors I have come to love this special place, and I certainly feel a duty to give back and pay forward – maintaining what we value about the community and at the same time taking responsible steps to secure an even better future.
I remain eager to do my part to address quality and accessibility in health care for seniors, families and children. Working together we can further the mission of our Health District “to facilitate the delivery of health and community services by encouraging collaborative partnerships and stewardship of public resources.”
Together we can strengthen and improve health and senior care quality and accessibility right here at home.
I respectfully request your vote and your support for the Health District’s bond measure in the May 16 election. Thank you.
