Leach selected to fill health district board position

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

The vacant seat on the board of the Fallbrook Regional Health District was filled on May 27 when trustees voted unanimously for William “Bill” Leach to complete the term through the November election. The District 3 position is on the ballot then and Leach said he would also seek voter approval at that time.

The position has been vacant since April when Kate Schwartz-Frates resigned, saying she was moving to the Palm Springs area and easing into retirement. The meeting on May 27 was a public hearing to consider applicants to complete her term.

Leach and another applicant, Glenn Davis, were interviewed individually by trustees Howard Salmon, board chair; Barbara Mroz, vice chair; Stephanie Ortiz, member; and Jennifer Jeffries, treasurer. The four-year terms of Salmon and Jeffries are also on the November ballot.

Board members said at the meeting they were impressed with both candidates but Leach’s experience of serving on the health board in 2014-2018 seemed to give him favor. Davis, an executive with Balboa United and Balboa Nephrology in La Jolla and said he has worked in the healthcare field for 40 years. He and his wife moved to Fallbrook recently from Northern California.

The two candidates answered the same set of questions, including why they were seeking the position, their time availability, familiarity with the district, special expertise, and what they thought the biggest changes were in the district.

Leach said he chose to apply because he loves the community, felt qualified, and wanted what was best for the district.

“I have an understanding of how a special district works and support the leadership and direction,” he said.

Leach said he was excited to see plans for the Wellness Center progressing and that it would be a valuable resource for the community. He said preventative health was an essential function of the district, citing other issues of obesity, diabetes, the elderly community, food scarcity and transportation.

Trustees voted by paper ballots to select the winner. After the board’s decision, Leach was sworn in by district attorney Jeff Scott.