The Mayers Memorial Hospital District (MMHD) Board of Directors is a five-member elected body subject to the Uniform District Election Law, beginning at Elections Code § 10500. Also, see Health and Safety Code § 13885.
Three positions on the MMHD Board of Directors were up for election on November 8, 2016 for four-year terms. The three positions on the MMHD Board of Directors that were up for election are currently occupied by Abe Hathaway, Allen Albaugh and one vacant position. Messrs. Hathaway and Albaugh filed a declaration of candidacy and were appointed to the MMHD by the Board of Supervisors in lieu of election on September 13, 2016. No declaration of candidacy was filed for the third vacancy.
Since no declarations of candidacy was filed for the vacancy MMHD office to be elected, Elections Code § 10515(b) dictates the manner in which these offices are to be filled.
Elections Code § 10515(b) states: If no person has filed a declaration of candidacy for any office, the supervising authority shall appoint any person to the office who is qualified on the date when the election would have been held. The person appointed shall qualify and take office and serve exactly as if elected at a general district election for the office.
The term “supervising authority” is defined as the Board of Supervisors. Elections Code § 10500(b)(13). Pursuant to this statute and Health & Safety Code § 13841, to be eligible for the MMHD Board of Directors, a person must be a resident of the MMHD and be a registered voter in the MMHD on November 8, 2016.
At their October 26, 2016 meeting, the MMHD Board of Directors unanimously recommended that the Board of Supervisors appoint Laura Beyer in lieu of an election for four-year term expiring December 2020. The MMHD Board of Directors sent correspondence to the Clerk of the Board requesting this appointment. A copy of this correspondence and the draft minutes from the October 26, 2016 MMHD meeting are attached.