ELECTIONS 2025: Hospital District candidate statements
The League of Women Voters of Whidbey Island posted this on their website on July 17, 2025.
Primary Elections 2025
Washington has a top-two-candidate voting system. Primary elections are held only for offices in which more than two candidates filed with the Elections office to run for a position. In 2025, that’s two offices for Island County: Public Hospital District Commissioner, Position 5, and Central Whidbey Fire Commissioner, Position 2.
In the past, the League of Women Voters of Whidbey Island has held Candidates’ Forums in advance of primary and general elections. This year, due to conflicting schedules, we are unable to have all candidates available at the same time. Instead, we have opted to invite the candidates to submit a brief statement addressing three questions:
- What are your qualifications for the position you seek?
- What is your interest in the position?
- What will be your priorities if you are elected to the position?
Our objective is to provide voters with information about the candidates that they can use to make decisions when completing their ballots.
Candidates for Public Hospital District Commissioner, Position 5:
Morgan Cooper: no statement submitted
Kirk Gasper: no statement submitted
Theodore C. Smith: no statement submitted
Dennis Rochier :
I have worked in healthcare for over 40 years, 8 as laboratory technician and 35 as physician. My leadership experience includes medical director of the hospitalist team at the Franciscan hospitals in Tacoma, Section Head of Adult Family Medicine at Virginia Mason, Medical Director of Primary Care overseeing rural clinics in Nevada, Chief Medical Officer of Acute Care including an 800 bed hospital as well as a Critical Access Rural Hospital, Chief Physician Executive at Overlake Medical Clinics and Medical Director of Whidbey Health Clinics in Coupeville, Freeland and Clinton. My degrees include MD and Master of Healthcare Administration.
The Public Hospital Board interests me as it provides an opportunity to use my many years of experience as a clinician and leader in a public service capacity. As a Whidbey Island resident, I recognize the importance of having access to high quality care locally. The Hospital is facing challenges due to financial and regulatory changes that place all rural health systems at risk.
My priorities are to bring efficiency and quality care to the system through board oversight. Through my understanding of healthcare systems, I intend to be a resource to the administration, medical staff, and patients who rely on Whidbey Health.
Ed. Note: The post on the LWVWI website included statements from both the Whidbey Island Public Hospital District candidates for position 5 and the Central Whidbey Island Fire and Rescue District candidates for position 3. We have posted the statements for the two positions separately. You can find the Fire Commissioner candidate statements at this link.
On the Ballot in 2025
| WHIDBEY ISLAND PUBLIC HOSPITAL DISTRICT |
|---|
| Commissioner, Position 3 James Canby Christina LeClaire Incumbent Ron Wallin did not file for another term. |
| Commissioner, Position 4 Mark E. Borden Juliann Althoff Incumbent Greg Richardson did not file for another term. |
| Commissioner, Position 5 Dennis Rochier Kirk Gasper Morgan Cooper Theodore C. Smith Incumbent Kate Rose passed away on April 24, 2025. The remaining commissioners will appoint a replacement to serve until the results of the November election are certified. |
