Special to the Town Crier
The high quality of candidates applying for the vacant position on the El Camino Hospital District Board of Trustees has pushed back Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian's timetable for filling the position.
Ten candidates applied for the position left open when Dianna Adair chose not to run in the November election and no other candidates stepped forward. Under state law, it fell to the county supervisors to fill the vacancy. Because the hospital district is in Simitian's area of the county, he has taken the lead in filling the board vacancy.
The field of applicants has been narrowed to five, according to Amy Carta, spokeswoman for Simitian.
"We have an abundance of riches in qualified candidates," Simitian said. "I'm startled but pleased. I'd be perfectly fine with any of them."
To aid in decision-making, Simitian is now calling individuals listed as references by each of the five finalists, Carta said. Simitian said he hopes to decide by early March.
Simitian said city of residence is "one of a great many factors" being considered. "It is certainly not the most important," he said. "I'm looking for someone bringing complementary skills to a board with three physicians and one health care professional."