Recall Seeks to Oust 4 on Grossmont Board

A citizens committee is preparing to circulate recall petitions against four Grossmont Hospital District board members who voted to affiliate with Sharp HealthCare.

The Citizens Network to Save Grossmont District Hospital, which is spearheaded by physicians who oppose the affiliation, began the process by registering the effort with the county Registrar of Voters Tuesday. Formal notices to the four targets also are being delivered this week.

Petitions will be against George Hurst, Adrian Jameson, Curtis Kelly and Robert Muscio.

They voted in the 4-1 majority April 3 to approve the affiliation of the La Mesa hospital with Sharp “in principle.” A final vote is to be taken after legal papers are drawn up.

A volunteer effort to gather 22,000 signatures on recall petitions will begin after the board members have a chance to respond to the notice, said Dr. Dennis D. Wilcox, an organizer for the group.

“I have no doubt that we’ll get the 22,000 signatures we need,” Wilcox said Wednesday. “These board members have certainly had ample opportunity to heed the voters, and they’ve not done so. For that, they’re going to have to stand the scrutiny of the voters.”

Volunteers will circulate petitions, and some doctors will also have them available in their offices for signature, he said.

Retired Dr. Basil Maloney, chairman of the board, called the recall effort “very troubling,” even though he opposes the affiliation, calling it a giveaway.

“There are so many players that you just have to take it step by step,” Maloney said. “I’m playing this one day at a time.”