WhidbeyHealth Board Seeks Nominees for Two Vacant Seats, Nominates Henry Veldman

WhidbeyHealth’s board of commissioners is operating with two vacant seats after recent resignations and has published a call for candidate nominations. The board published the notice on Feb. 6 and said, "Under state law the board may nominate one candidate at a time; the board has nominated Henry Veldman for one of the seats". The notice as provided to the public is incomplete in some respects, and the board has not released the names of the departing commissioners or the schedule for filling the second vacancy.

The limited information available leaves several practical questions unanswered for Island County residents: whether Veldman has been formally appointed or remains a nominee, what deadline potential applicants must meet for the second seat, and which statutory provision limits the board to nominating one candidate at a time. Those details typically govern whether a replacement is temporary or subject to a later public election, and they determine how quickly the board can restore a full complement of commissioners to oversee hospital operations.

Separately, Desert Healthcare District & Foundation in Palm Springs is moving through a clear, time-bound replacement process after Director Arthur Shorr submitted a resignation letter dated Nov. 18, with his resignation effective Nov. 30, 2025. The district set a 60-day window to act, running through Jan. 29, 2026, and invited interested residents to submit a cover letter and résumé by 5 p.m. on Jan. 5 to CEO Chris Christensen. The public posting obfuscated the email address for submissions. The district expected to appoint a new director in January; that appointee would serve about 10 months until an election on Nov. 3, 2026, when the remainder of Shorr’s two-year balance of his four-year term would be decided. The full four-year cycle concludes in November 2028 when a regular election would fill the seat for a standard term.

Arthur Shorr first joined the Desert Healthcare board as an appointee in May 2019, served approximately six years including terms as board treasurer, and brought a long professional history to the post. Shorr’s background includes 40-plus years in the healthcare industry, executive management roles in acute care teaching hospitals, founding and managing an international healthcare consulting firm, and service on hospital governing boards. CEO Chris Christensen commented on Shorr’s departure: "Director Shorr will be missed," and added, "The District benefited tremendously from the business acumen, pragmatic outlook, and humor he brought to the Board and committees during six years of service. We wish him all the best in his next endeavor."

For Island County residents, vacancies on hospital and district boards matter because commissioners and directors shape local health policy, capital planning, and oversight of clinical services. Watch for complete notices from WhidbeyHealth for application and appointment details, and check upcoming board agendas for both organizations to learn whether the remaining WhidbeyHealth vacancy has been filled and whether the Desert Healthcare Board completed its January appointment.