Bronson Gray, Bianchi claim Cambria healthcare board seats

North Coast voters have ended a combative election cycle for the Cambria Community Healthcare District by voting for change and electing former county supervisor Shirley Bianchi and incumbent Trustee Barbara Bronson Gray. Their individual vote counts were more than double that for their closest opponent, incumbent Kristi Jenkins.

With final, unofficial election totals for 100 percent of precincts tallied, Gray had received 1,759 votes (or 37 percent of those cast) and Bianchi had gotten 1,651 (34 percent).

Jenkins received 820 votes (17 percent) and appointed incumbent Jerry Wood got 500 (10 percent). Voters cast 12 ballots for write-in candidates.

With that vote spread, the ranking isn’t expected to change, even though some votes haven’t yet been counted, such as those cast provisionally or vote-by-mail ballots turned in at a poll Tuesday. The county Elections Office posted the unofficial North Coast results after midnight.

The district provides 24/7 ambulance service to an area that spans from Villa Creek to the Monterey County line, from the Santa Lucia ridge to the sea. Beyond ambulance and emergency-medical services, the district also owns a professional medical building and provides community health care education.

Candidates (and factions of the community) have been debating the future of the medical building and separate district quarters, with some people believing that the buildings can be successfully rehabilitated and others preferring to find a new location. Another point of contention is how the district should provide health care education to the community.

The district’s 2016-17 budget includes income of about $1.7 million. For details on CCHD, go to www.cambria-healthcare.org.

This story was originally published November 9, 2016 at 8:46 AM with the headline "Bronson Gray, Bianchi claim Cambria healthcare board seats."