Candidate: Jane Diehl For Beach Cities Health District

REDONDO BEACH, CA — The 2020 election is heating up in Los Angeles County, and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Eyes are primarily focused on the presidential election, but voters will also decide the outcome of state representative and senate seats.

Closer to home, Patch has asked candidates for city council races to discuss their campaigns, publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

In Redondo Beach, Jane Diehl is running for one of the open seats for the Beach Cities Health District.

Age (as of Election Day)

68

Town/City of Residence

Redondo Beach

Office Sought

County office

Where appropriate, add specifics about office sought: i.e., State Senate District 1, State Assembly District 2, Temecula City Council District 1, etc.

Beach Cities Health District

Party affiliation (not needed in non-partisan races, including county, city and school offices)

Non partisan race

Family

Children :Elizabeth Carey ,and Philip Diehl

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Ohio State University , Children’s Hospital physical therapy school

Occupation

Retired Physical Therapist 42 years

Campaign website

Facebook : Jane Diehl for Beach Cities Health District

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

Redondo Beach School Board 2003-2013 , Beach Cities Health District 2014 to present

The single most pressing issue facing our (state, district, community, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Most pressing problem is financial stability. COVID has changed what we do at the health district and our priorities have changed so that we assist with testing, take care of more seniors who need food, medicine, to be taken to appointments and connect with them for social contact on the phone. We have participated in collaboration of the school districts and Children’s Hospital L A. to help them return to the classrooms. We have worked with the chambers to start Safe in the South Bay so consumers are confident when they go shopping. With no health and fitness center , the staff has been doing videos for people to keep exercising. These all have costs so we will need to evaluate our programs and see how we will do them with all of the changes. Prior to COVID we had a 15 year financial plan showing that we would have to make changes to keep up with the expenses of our free programs. We have been working on a remodeling of the campus. It would include assisted living and PACE. PACE is a government program for Seniors that would include medical clinics and an adult day care.
The second phase would include a wellness pavilion. It would have a new gym, meeting rooms, kitchen to teach nutrition and offices for BCHD. The new gym will probably have a pool. We are doing a survey now to see the needs of the community.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

As I stated earlier I am presently on the board and i have knowledge of our programs and our problems. Consistency is going to be important for us to move quickly thru these difficult times. I believe my background is the most beneficial of all the candidates. My board experience at RBUSD gave me a good working knowledge of remodeling. I did that all 10 years I was there. We put in 2 LEED certified buildings. We put in solar panels in the parking lots. My occupation of being a physical therapist makes me the only candidate with working knowledge of assisted living. I have worked with seniors in independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing homes. I will know what is necessary to make an outstanding assisted facility. I also have a background in water therapy and pools in general. Both my children were lifeguards and taught swing lessons for MB and RB.
My experience on the school board showed me the importance of youth helping to make decisions. I brought the idea to the BCHD board that we include students. Because of our talented staff we now have 80 students in your youth advisory committee. They will help us with the youth mental health and wellness clinic.
My experience of being a public official has taught me to listen and try to understand the importance of all comments.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

It is important to be an ambassador for BCHD. The job is not about one meeting a month. We have opportunities to attend chamber events, city council events for all three cities. I attended the MB state of the city and met someone who was the fundraiser for the Sr/ Scout house and this meeting lead to the BCHD approval of new kitchen equipment for the project. These meetings are opportunities to meet people in all three beach cities.and find out how I can serve them. I am retired so I have more availability then other members of the board. BCHD has it’s own events as well. I have attended the summer Zumba since it started. I even did the virtual Zumba this summer.
I am also involved in Redondo Beach Round Table and Friends of Redondo Beach Arts. These organizations help me to share knowledge of BCHD programs and connect BCHD to these groups.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have been involved in 3 successful elections for RBUSD and 2 successful elections for BCHD. I have always held the thought that this is a nonpartisan office and that we can work together for the good of the community. I have helped new board members to learn their jobs because it is all about getting the job done. I am very respectful of the public and feel that transparency is important. We added our check request to the board report because I wanted the public to see our expenses. I have helped BCHD to clarify public participation procedures so that the public understands the process. I believe in good governance and have completed the Special District Leadership Academy.

If you win this position, what accomplishment would make your term in office as a success?

Success would go back to being financially stable. There are lots of changes happening and in order to provide free services and fill need gaps in the community we have to have the finances to continue being a nationally recognized health district.

Why should voters trust you?

I have proved that my main aim is to be a service leader. I believe in community participation. Community participation takes longer but the results are much better. We have an educated community that helps us at every turn. The health district is designed to help fulfill the needs of the citizens of the three beach cities. I am honored to have served these past six years and would like to use my knowledge to continue to serve so we get the best outcome for the Beach Cities.

What are your views on fiscal policy, government spending and the use of taxpayer dollars in the office you are seeking?

The property tax is about 29% of the Health District budget. We are fortunate to have other revenue scores so we provide the community $3.70 in services for every $1 of property tax. We are able to provided services to the community because we have over one thousand volunteers that provide over one million dollars in service. We also have over 20 partners to help make our dollars go further. I would not want this to change which is why BCHD is working to keep the free services the community needs.

Is there any reason you would not serve your full term of office, other than those of health or family?

No

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Make sure as a public official to always be humble.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I think my answers were complete

This article originally appeared on the Redondo Beach Patch