BY AMELIA BISCARDI
Daily Post Staff Writer
The Sequoia Healthcare District’s board of directors has an open seat with two candidates vying to replace current board member Kim Griffin who is not running for re-election.
Jo-Ann Byrne Sockolov, 62, who founded a consulting practice, is running against physicians assistant Cama Garcia Lock, 53.
Lock and Sockolov are facing off to represent District B which covers Menlo Park, Atherton and parts of Woodside. The healthcare district covers most of southern San Mateo County.
The healthcare district was formed in 1946 to fund Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City with property taxes. In 1996, the district’s board sold the hospital to Catholic Healthcare West, now Dignity Health.
When the hospital was sold, the district didn’t go away. Instead it continued to collect the property tax meant for the hospital. The board decided to give that money to various nonprofit charities. Voters were not asked to change the purpose of the district; that was a decision made by the board of directors with the support of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors.
Sockolov said she wants to make an impact on community health. She has been working with the district’s Healthy Schools Initiative and said that has allowed her to see how important the district is in the community.
Socklov is a lifelong San Mateo County resident who grew up in Pacifica. If elected, she wants to serve the poor.
“Whole community health depends on whole community access,” Sockolov said. “Investing in technology that enables remote and virtual experiences to improve health outside of clinical settings is one example of expanding access.”
Sockolov also says she wants to address healthcare shortages as well as improving mental health programs and regularly communicating with residents to find new ways to innovate. Sockolov wants the district to also ensure that there is healthcare for residents at all stages of life.
Garcia Lock did not respond to the Post’s attempts to reach her. But she told KQED that she has 25 years in the health care industry as a physician assistant and a master’s in Health Science.
“I am dedicated to ensuring high-quality health care is accessible to all … Enhancing access to care, expanding community clinics and services to each residence facing barriers to care,” she told KQED.
Incumbent Ivan Martinez is running unopposed for his seat in a separate district within the healthcare district.