PORT ANGELES — The three Olympic Medical Center commissioner races were closely fought amid mounting criticism of the hospital’s worsening finances, repeated regulatory survey failures that have jeopardized its Medicare funding and the rapid departure of senior leaders, including former CEO Darryl Wolfe.
The board also faced criticism for hiring an interim CEO despite the objections from staff and community members.
In the Position 1 race, challenger Dr. Gerald Stephanz, Jr. was leading incumbent and board president Ann Henninger, 55.89 percent (6,384 votes) to 43.69 percent (4,991 votes).
“There are still votes to be counted, but I’m cautiously optimistic,” Stephanz said.
Dr. Carleen Bensen had a solid lead over challenger Tara Coffin, 58.84 percent (6,547 votes) to 40.52 percent (4,508 votes) for the Position No. 4 seat being vacated by Jean Hordyk, who is stepping down after 30 years.
Bensen, a former OMC urologist, said the situation at OMC has changed a great deal since she filed for office in May, when the most pressing concern seemed to be the hospital’s search for a potential partner.
“Since then, there’s been the repeated compliance failures and four of the C suite leaders have left,” she said. “But I feel very prepared.”
Bensen said she and Coffin have become friends over the course of their campaigns and had wished each other good luck.
“We agree on a lot of things,” she said.
In the Position No. 7 race, Penney Sanders led challenger Laurie Force 51.49 percent (5,836 votes) to 48.06 percent (5,447 votes).
Sanders was appointed to the board in March after former at-large commissioner Phyllis Bernard stepped down. Sanders will serve out the remaining two years of Bernard’s unexpired term and run again.
Sanders said that, with 8,000 ballots yet to be counted, she didn’t want to make any assumptions.
“I will be watching the evening returns like everybody else,” she said.
The seven hospital commissioners serve six-year terms. Their compensation includes reimbursement for travel, the same insurance offered to employees and a stipend of $161 a day for official business with a maximum of 96 days for a total of no more than $15,456 a year.
Forks Community Hospital incumbent District 1 commissioner Paige Pearson ran unopposed, winning with 98.1 percent of the vote (595 votes).
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Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
