SVH board bids goodbye to two long-time board members

This Wednesday, with the Sonoma Valley Hospital enjoying a new spirit of optimism, Mike Nugent and Mike Smith, who have served during much of the hospital’s beleaguered past, will turn their seats over to two new board members, Peter Hohorst and Madolyn Agrimonti.
Of his fellow board members, re-elected board member Bill Boerum praised the two as truly fine public servants. “Though many times in conflict,” he said, “they always served without any aggrandizement of any sort, and always did what their hearts told them were the right things to do.” He said of Nugent, “I’ve known [him] for almost 15 years and he has always exhibited the purest of intentions without one whit of guile or any motive other than to serve the best interests of this community.” He also praised Nugent’s ability to work together despite disagreements. Smith, whom he described as being on the other end of the political spectrum, Boerum praised equally. “Mike Smith was an ever-alert sentinel for transparency in public deliberations. He has a visceral bravery, which enabled him to confront anyone and any situation. Mike never forgot … that we always were doing the people’s business. He served selflessly and with the highest of idealism.”
Nugent himself said he remembered the moment the call came announcing he’d been elected to the board. “I was watching Bill and Hillary Clinton dancing with the Gores at the governor’s mansion in Little Rock, and I got a call from a reporter.” That was 16 years ago. Since then, he said, it’s amazing that the hospital has not only survived, but achieved. “The community health center didn’t exist 16 years ago,” he said. But the hospital kept it alive, and now, he said, “There are thousands of stories among those 40,000 that would just bring tears to your eyes.”
The conflict over Measure C was a low point, Nugent felt, explaining that the board did at the time what they thought needed to be done. “The circumstances we were faced with at the time were different than we’re faced with today. Now we can make an investment over 15-20 years to keep the place working.”
He praised the board for being able to work together even during that hard time. “Here’s the thing I hope is not lost on the history – the three difficult decisions that have been made in the last 15 years have been made unanimously. On the board of directors, nobody has shied away from the hard decisions. It’s not because we all think the same, but the facts as presented didn’t allow us to make other decisions.”
For Smith, conflict is just another word for being involved. “I’m on the board cause I’m a former ER nurse and Ken Brown asked me to run,” he said, noting that his election, eight years ago, was a surprise. “I was not endorsed by the local paper; I was perceived by the hospital and board for being a stalking horse for the union I worked for. I had a lot of energy put toward defeating me, and I took first place.”
As a life-long civil rights worker, he worked for transparency on the part of the board. “I was instrumental in convincing the board to follow the Brown Act. When I came on the board 90 percent of the board meetings were held in secret. There was no understanding of having prior notice for the public. So I filed a notice.” He said he was the first person to suggest a parcel tax. “I also suggested that the retrofit mandate was not in stone, and that there would be extensions – which tuned out to be true.” He said one of the most important things he did was support SB 921, for universal health care. “I think I certainly fought for the right for people to express themselves, and pushed as hard as I could for the ‘small is good’ philosophy. And ultimately we came up with a plan the community wanted.”
Jerry Tuller, a former board member, praised the work of the board in the face of difficult times. He said he’s seen much more involvement on the part of the community now, and that while that’s good, it slows the process down. “I think any time the community gets involved in community operations, that’s good. But it’s also very time-consuming and perplexing in a way. People have many different views. People feel strongly. That makes it much more difficult for board members.” He said that the overwhelming majority who voted for the recent bond measure shows that the board had done its job and the community really supports the hospital. “When it all came together at the end with that kind of vote, it showed that they really do want that hospital. That makes me feel really good about the health care district. We know that’s not the final answer, but it’s an answer that will satisfy the voters and the hospital for a good number of years.”
Incoming board members will be sworn in and outgoing board members and all who helped with the campaign will be recognized at the regular board meeting to be held tomorrow Dec. 10, at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. The local television station SVTV will carry the meeting live on Comcast Channel 27.