Three local residents have stepped forward as candidates for two seats on the Del Puerto Health Care District board and are seeking votes in the Nov. 6 election.

Incumbents Jeannette Kessler and board president Anne Stokman want to keep their four-year seats, while challenger Ed Maring, who served on the board for 30 years before losing his seat in the 2010 election, hopes to return to the local board.

The Irrigator provided a series of questions for Kessler, Stokman and Maring.

Fred Beltran, who has served in the boards only two-year position, has no opponent to retain his seat.

Other board members are Harold Hill and Ramona East, whose terms expire in 2014.

ANNE IELMINI STOKMAN What do you specifically plan to accomplish if you are elected to the Del Puerto Health Care District board? Why do you want to be on the board?

I have served one term on the board; we have been through a lot of changes: a new building, a new CEO, electronic medical records and multiple physicians. We have excellent staff at the district office, ambulance and clinic. We have reached stability and are ready to move toward building additional health care services.

I have lived in Patterson my entire life. I have 30 years experience as a registered nurse working in the hospital, home heath, hospice, clinic manager, diabetes educator and nurse consultant. I want to continue to volunteer to help expand services in our community for health care, prevention and urgent care.

What are the immediate needs for health care on the West Side? What needs to happen to bring those services to Patterson?

We need radiology services, including ultrasound and mammograms.

The rest is here:

Three vie for two seats on Del Puerto Health board