Sparks fly as town picks
new council member
Article Launched:10/19/2006 12:00:15 AM PDT
Tad Whitaker
Marin Independent Journal
Judy House was appointed to the San Anselmo Town Council this
week.
The four council members voted unanimously Tuesday to appoint
her to fill the term of Ian Roth, who resigned to become Fairfax
finance director. House's term extends to November 2009.
Ford Greene, who also sought the post, was scolded by council
members for harshly criticizing House and blaming her for the
demise of the old Ross Hospital when she served as chief executive.
"I find it disturbing and insulting," Councilman
Wayne Cooper said of Greene's criticism.
Councilman Peter Breen said House was a town volunteer who
did the best during last week's public interview session. In contrast,
he noted Greene launched a war of words aimed at House.
"I was truly embarrassed by that behavior," Breen
said.
Greene campaigned for the appointment, noting he fell just
300 votes short of beating Roth during the council election last
year. The other two candidates in that race, Tom Fallon and Lujza
Mehling, backed Greene for the appointment.
Greene said the council never seriously considered him or the
other candidates who sought the appointment.
"It was a done deal," he said. "I'm not going
anywhere. There's an election in a year."
House has served on the Planning Commission for eight years,
as well as on the Measure G Monitoring Committee. She holds a
bachelor's in psychology from the University of North Carolina,
and a master's in psychology from the University of West Florida.
She was CEO of the old Ross Hospital and has more than 25 years
of experience in health-care administration. She sought a seat
on the health-care district board two years ago, backing the Sutter
administration of Marin General Hospital.
House dismissed the mudslinging and said she is eager to begin
serving. She said she ignored Greene's accusations.
"Things were misrepresented," she said. "I just
wanted to stick to the issues." |