Special to the Town Crier
Former Los Altos Mayor David W. Reeder is the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors appointee to the El Camino Hospital District Board. Reeder's appointment to the seat vacated by Dianna Adair was announced March 9 by Supervisor Joe Simitian.
Simitian led a lengthy review process of 10 applicants for the appointed position.
"There were many excellent candidates and the decision was a difficult one," Simitian said. "It's important that the hospital continue to have strong leadership. With his long experience in public service and commitment to the local community, Dave Reeder will bring complementary skills to the current board."
Reeder, a longtime engineer and program manager with Lockheed Martin Global Telecommunications, was elected to the Los Altos City Council in 1987 and served until 1995.
He served as mayor in 1989-90 and on the Los Altos Planning commission from 1976-86.
He was a member of the board of advisors for the Community Foundation of Silicon Valley for seven years. Reeder is currently on the board of trustees of the North Santa Clara County Library Authority and the board of directors of the Los Altos Community Foundation.
Reeder said he brings "strength in the financial arena" to the district board. He has a particular interest in the hospital district's long-term financial health, he said, and in exploring ways to get community members more aware of and involved in the district.
Last year Reeder and Los Altos City Councilman King Lear co-hosted a cable television program on the El Camino Hospital District.
The hospital district's board of directors, comprised of five district residents normally elected by the public, is responsible for the governance of the 426-bed hospital, the dialysis center and day surgery center, the Mid-Peninsula HomeCare, Hospice & Continuous Care.
Current board members include Mark O'Connor and Drs. Paul Hoar, Dominick Curatola and Edward G. Bough.
The hospital district was established in 1961 to serve the communities of Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Sunnyvale, Cupertino and Palo Alto.
"We are very pleased that the board of supervisors and Mr. Simitian have selected such an outstanding community leader to join our board," said Richard M. Warren, chief executive officer and administrator of El Camino Hospital. "Health care will continue to fact many difficult challenges in the future and strong leadership is essential to El Camino Hospital's success."