By Douglas Mullin
Candidate, Fredericton RHA
The Regional Health Authority election held in conjunction with
the municipal election is history in the making. This is the first
election and the Fredericton division, known as B6, has a historic
number of candidates. There are nine candidates, representing a
diversity of age, gender, status in life and experience, seeking one
position.
The Regional Health Authority elections will elect 8 board members to Horizon Health Network and 8 board members to Réseau de Santé Vitalité. Horizon Health Health Network represents Anglophone New Brunswick while Réseau de Santé Vitalité represents Francophone New Brunswick. If I am elected, I will be installed as board member of Horizon Health.
There will be 8 elected and 7 appointed board members for each
network. The election is designed to introduce more openness and
transparency into the management of health care. My perception is that
the split between elected and appointed is for consistency in decision
making and knowledge transfer, between experienced members and newly
elected.
On the ballot, I am seven of nine. My name: Douglas Mullin. I
choose to run because of my personal experience with the health care
system. I have lived in Fredericton for 10+ years without a family
doctor. My dad lives in a nursing home. I understand the frustration of
accessing health care.
I choose to run because I believe it’s important to give back
to the community. Being an engaged citizen with degrees in theology and
political science requires greater involvement than simply voting every
election cycle. I see my campaign as a further extension of my community
involvement.
I also run because I believe in the democratic ideal. I believe
that the opinions of the average New Brunswicker need to be represented
in the decision making bodies of our province. I commend the current
government for moving this forward. I’m disappointed that more people
aren’t aware of the election for Regional Health Authority. I know
Elections NB is trying. I have seen a TV ad, encouraging people to vote.
I keep talking to people who say they were not aware of the
election. That’s fair seeing it is the first election. As a candidate I
feel it’s important to raise the profile of the race. Chasing down my
fellow candidates beyond their names was important to me. I took the
gutsy move of publishing the links I found on my blog, http://dougmullin.ca. I took the gutsier move of approving a comment expressing support for my one of my fellow candidates.
I am confident in my ability to connect with people and to be
able to represent the interest of New Brunswickers on the board of
Horizon Health. I have worked in customer service and hospitality for my
entire adult life. I have lived and studied in Kenya and taught in
South Korea. I chose to come back to New Brunswick and stay because we
need smart, educated citizens who care about making a difference, one
day at a time.
New Brunswick is a wonderful province, and win or lose on May
14, I will be engaged in my community. I will continue to volunteer with
Fredericton Community Kitchen. I will volunteer my photography for
charity events. I will seek other ways to give back to Fredericton, to
New Brunswick. I want you to do the same.
