Al DeYoung

• Age: 80

• Marital status: Married to Donna Pemberton DeYoung for 63 years

• Children: Two daughters

• Education: Bothell High School

• Occupation: Property Investment and Management

• Campaign Web site: none

• Campaign e-mail: lucydeyoung@isomedia.com

• Top 3 endorsements: none

• What are the three biggest challenges facing the King County Public Hospital District No. 2 in 2010?

1. Quality representation on the Board of Commissioners: The biggest challenge facing Evergreen in 2010 is to have quality representation on the Board of Commissioners. This is why I and three other members of the five member Board of Commissioners – Rebecca Hirt, Jeanette Greenfield and Auggie Kempf — are endorsing Chuck Pilcher in this election.

We do not do this without substantial thought and consideration for the future of the hospital, our patients, our employees and our taxpayers. In my thirty years on the Board of Commissioners Evergreen has grown from a small community hospital to the regional medical center it is today that is known for its award-winning quality of care. For the FUTURE we need Chuck Pilcher’s experience, knowledge and ability to work with the administration, doctors and community to do what is best for the Hospital and our patients. Please vote for Chuck Pilcher on Nov. 3.

2. The increasing financial impact on the hospital of uninsured care: As a public hospital, Evergreen must provide care for everyone who uses our emergency room regardless of their ability to pay. Also, as a public hospital, Evergreen receives a small tax levy which accounts for less than 4 percent of the Hospital District’s budget. The Commissioners have had the policy that the taxpayers’ dollars will be used to pay for uninsured healthcare, community programs and to repay bonds issued to build our facilities.

The number of uninsured/underinsured patients we serve is increasing substantially. This is compounded by the uncertainty about potential changes to health care reimbursement and funding by the federal government and insurance companies. As Commissioners, we must address how to reallocate dollars to pay for this increased cost without reducing the quality of service for our remaining patients or increasing our tax levy.

3. Implement and finance the new proposed Evergreen Cancer Center: Evergreen Hospital has received national recognition for the quality of its cancer program. In addition, cancer is impacting more and more of our residents’ lives. Evergreen has been discussing and planning for several years the implementation of a comprehensive cancer program.

This program will consolidate all of our cancer services and provide a seamless experience for our patients. This will not only improve the quality of health care provided it will also improve the quality of service at a very difficult time for a patient and their family. This will be the premier cancer center on the Eastside.

The Evergreen Healthcare Foundation has committed to raise $10 million for this center. Our challenge will be to make this vision become a reality.