Should the Medical Director answer to the Board?

Yes, the Medical Director should answer to the Board.

Do you believe Board members should be allowed to ride along with EMS crews and spend time with Alarm and other departments?

Yes, board members should be required to ride along with EMS crews and should be required to spend time in Alarm.  I also believe that board members should be allowed to ride out with other departments in the county.

Do you have any experience with EMS or medicine?

I have been involved in the emergency services since 1999 when I joined the volunteer fire department in my hometown.  I started my full-time EMS career as a dispatcher and later became an EMT.  I recieved my paramedic certification in 2005.  I have served as a Paramedic Supervisor, Field Training Officer, and Training Manager.  I have also served as an educator in the EMS program at Lone Star College.  I am currently the Director of Health, Safety & Environmental for an oil & gas engineering firm and have worked offshroe as both a safety specialist and paramedic.   I hold a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Science from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio were I graduated Magna Cum laude.  I completed a Master of Education from Texas A&M University in 2015.  I hold both a Texas Paramedic and EMS Educator License.  I also hold a Louisiana Paramedic License and and a National Registered Paramedic with the National Registry of EMTs.  

Why are you running for this office and what 3 major goals do you want to be measured by if you are elected?

I am running to ensure operational accountibility, proper fiduciary management, and to ensure that MCHD continues to provide excellent patient care.

Do you support spousal benefits for same-sex partners of State & County employees? Please explain your reasons.

This is an issue that the state legislature should and has been addressing.  That said, my personal belief is that marriage is between one man and one woman.

Should Health Care Assistance Patients be required to have drug testing in order to receive assistance?

This is another issue that the state legislature should address.  I do personally believe that people receiving assistance should be required to meet many criteria, not just a needs based assessment.

What is your opinion about Merit Pay versus COLA pay raises?

A COLA system can exist, but merit based pay raises should be the primary basis for salary increases.  Performance should be the main criteria for any pay raise.  There should be a quality and performance matrix to base these reviews on.

What is your opinion about salary caps?

I believe that there should be limits on salaries that are set by the Board.  There should be ranges that allow the District to both seek out the best personnel possible and allow those personnel room to grow with the District.

Should any first responder injured in the line of duty have their ambulance charges absorbed by the District?

Yes

Should salaried employees be paid overtime?

No, salaried employees should not be paid overtime.

Is it the responsibility of the Board to monitor the spending of the District and verify expenses?

Yes, it is the responsibility of the board to maintain accountability for the District's spending and expenses

Should the District be involved in the transfer of patients, where ALS(Advanced Life Support) is not required?

For calls coming into Alarm for a response for service transporting into an emergency room, yes, the district should provide transport.  For inter-facility transports (hospital to hospital), no, the district’s primary role and responsibility is providing emergency care to the citizens of Montgomery County.

 Is it better to build stand alone EMS facilities, co-locate with fire departments, or purchase existing facilities and modify them?

Whichever meets the needs of the that particular area and is the most cost effective.

Do you support or oppose increasing and broadening the Sales Tax to reduce property taxes? Why?

I am generally in favor of moving to sales taxes and relieving the burden from property owners.

Should Board members have open lines of communications with all employees of the District?

Yes, the Board should maintain open communication with any and all District employees.

Should Hospital District personnel be allowed to carry while at work?

I support the ability carry a concealed weapon while on duty in compliance with state laws.

Should District employees have open lines of communications with Board members, without fear of reprisal?  Why or why not?

Yes, the Board should maintain open communication with any and all District employees.  There should be no fear of reprisal.

Do you believe the Board should have access to all MCHD reports and records, excluding patient records?  Why or why not?

Yes, the Board should have access to all MCHD records and reports.

Should Board members have complete access to all areas of the District?  Why or why not?

Yes, the Board members should have access to all areas of the District.  It is the Board's responsibility to ensure accountability and such access is necessary.

The Board is to set Policy, should it have any say in procedures?  Explain your rationale.

The Board has a responsibility to oversee the implementation of procedures and ensure that they comply with the polices set by the Board.

The Board is not supposed to micro-manage, but should they trust and verify?

I do not believe that the Board should micro-manage the daily operations of the District, but the Board should hold the senior management of the District accountable as the Board is accountable to the taxpayers of Montgomery County. 

List Civic, Political or union organization or individuals to whom you have contributed time or money (five years).

I am active in the Montgomery County Republican Party.  I have served on the nominations committee, and have been a delegate to the 2008, 2014, and 2016 RPT conventions.  I am currently serving on the Executive Board of the Texas Young Republicans as Director of Club Development and as Vice-Chair of the Montgomery County Young Republicans.  I am also active in several professional organizations including the National Association of EMTs, the Association of Texas EMS Professionals, and the American Society of Safety Engineers.

Should Disrtict employees take home District vehicles and if so for what purpose?

District emergency personnel that would have a duty to respond should be permitted to take District vehicles home.

Should District employees living out of the county take home emergency vehicles?

No.