REGION — North County voters have selected a mix of incumbents and newcomers to serve on public healthcare district boards, filling seats on both the Palomar Health and Tri-City Healthcare boards.
Three board seats were up for election in the Palomar Health District, which covers 800 square miles and includes Escondido, San Marcos, and Vista.
In Division 4, former Palomar nurse Abbi Jahaaski unseated incumbent treasurer Laura Barry, capturing 65% of the vote as of Nov. 12. Jahaaski aims to enhance transparency, improve staff pay, and reduce ER wait times.
“I just want to give back to the staff and the patients I used to care for,” Jahaaski previously told The Coast News.
In Division 6, incumbent Jeff Griffith led the race with more than 62% of the vote against challengers Joe Muga and Gaurav Dhiman.
Griffith, a retired firefighter and paramedic, plans to continue focusing on the district’s financial health and supports the executive team’s recent move under Mesa Rock as part of a partnership with Sharp. In Division 2, Director Terry Corrales ran unopposed.
Four seats were on the ballot in the Tri-City Healthcare District, which serves Oceanside, Carlsbad, and Vista.
Zone 1 incumbent Adela Irma Sanchez retained her seat with over 65% of the vote against Allen Newsome. A registered nurse with nearly 20 years of experience, Sanchez also serves on the board committee responsible for finding a healthcare partner for Tri-City.
“My job is not done,” Sanchez said of her re-election.
In Zone 5, former Palomar Health executive Sheila Brown defeated former Tri-City executive Aaron Byzak with nearly 62% of the vote. Brown’s primary focus is on sustaining and enhancing healthcare quality in the community.
In Zone 7, incumbent Dr. Nina Chaya secured victory over Valerie Mitchell with close to 63% of the vote. Chaya, an anesthesiologist at Tri-City since 2012 and the only physician on the board, emphasized the importance of finding a “suitable partner that will be trustworthy stewards to provide the best possible care for” Tri-City patients.
Zone 3 incumbent Gigi Gleason ran unopposed. These results reflect a continued focus on experience and community healthcare priorities among voters in North County.
