County Measure A Brochure Draws Fire for Apparent Advocacy

"From his perspective, this five-paragraph letter addressed to "Neighbors," accompanied by "COMMUNITY UPDATE" marketing material in bright yellow and blue colors ("Every 11 minutes, someone in our county is taken by ambulance to a County-run hospital." "Our local hospitals and clinics may be forced to close because of the federal budget cuts.") was an inappropriate tactic meant to influence a referendum on a proposed health care-focused tax hike. "What the county is doing is wrong," said Kumar, a former Saratoga City Council member who is currently also running for County Assessor, adding he feels the regional government-without explicitly mentioning Measure A-is trying to influence the Nov. 4 Special Election. "They are telling them, without telling them.""

"According to Kumar, this is another example of the county surreptitiously misspending money to sway people's opinions. "Just to pass Measure A, the county is misusing taxpayer dollars to push their own messaging out," he said. "They are crossing the line." The Measure A campaign declined to comment for this story. The County operates four of the county's 12 hospitals-Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, O'Connor Hospital, Regional Medical Center and St. Louise Regional Hospital-representing more than 38 percent of its licensed beds, according to California Department of Health Care Access and Information."

County executive James R. Williams sent a five-paragraph mailing labeled a "COMMUNITY UPDATE" with bright marketing urging attention to ambulance usage and potential hospital closures tied to federal budget cuts. Rishi Kumar, chair of the No on Measure A campaign and a county assessor candidate, called the mailing an inappropriate tactic and accused the county of using taxpayer funds to sway the Nov. 4 Special Election. The Measure A campaign declined to comment. The County operates four of the county's 12 hospitals, representing more than 38 percent of licensed beds, according to state data. County officials defended the mailing when questioned.

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