COUNTYWIDE : Supervisor Scolds Press Over Study
Supervisor Maria VanderKolk lost her temper with members of the local press during Tuesday’s board meeting, lambasting them for not paying attention to an annual report on the state of the county health care system.
VanderKolk’s outburst began after Ventura County Health Care Agency Director Phillipp K. Wessels concluded a 20-minute report that was largely ignored by the six or seven people sitting in the second-floor press gallery of the supervisors’ hearing room at the Ventura County Government Center.
Before responding to Wessels’ report, VanderKolk addressed the group of journalists.
“Is the audio turned on up there?” she asked, gesturing at the reporters. “Can you hear me? Nod your head if you can hear me.”
After receiving several affirmative nods and waves from the press corps, VanderKolk accused the local media of only seeking out negative stories.
“I guess it’s not news that we have one of the best-run hospitals in the state of California, and probably the nation,” she said. “I’m very disgruntled at the lack of attention that this report has received.”
VanderKolk then redirected her comments to Wessels and read a constituent’s letter praising a home care program for AIDS sufferers. She presented Wessels and the county’s Health Care Agency with a $250 check collected by the letter writer and friends.
As the board discussion moved on to a new issue and another speaker took the podium, VanderKolk left the meeting, returning several minutes later with a beverage in hand.
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