Vote Dr. Delaney Smith for County Supervisor 2nd District

Dateline Carson Calif April 26, 2008

Cal State Dominguez sponsored one of the few Los Angeles County Supervisorial Debates inwhich all candidates have been invited. The Debate was sponsored by the African American Student Union at Dominguez Hills, and Dr. David Horne. There are 8 Candidates in the race for retiring Yvonne B. Burke's seat.

The Candidates in attendance included Dr. Delaney Smith, a physician, pharmacist, and educator; Thomas Neusom an attorney; Martin Luther King Aubrey, a community activist; Morris Griffin, a community activist;Dr. Florian Thompson, a dentist. Suprisingly, missing from the debate, [one of very few such debates held to date for the Supervisor's race]..... were senator Mark Ridley Thomas, and LA city councilman [former police chief].

The issues addressed by the challengers included the fact that the number one issue facing the incoming Supervisor will be the reopening of Martin Luther King Hospital and related health care matters. Dr. Delaney Smith points to the fact that he is "the most qualified candidate to address these and various other issues., and expressed great disappointment that that councilman Parks and senator Ridley-Thomas were not present, and seemingly gave no notice that they would not be appearing". Dr. Smith also expresses concern that he was not allowed to appear at the earlier debate at Holman Methodist Church, on February 11, 2008 that was sponsored by the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper, the non-profit "Brotherhood Crusade" and a local radio station. Later another local newspaper the Outlook.... sponsored still another 2 man debate.

Challenger Morris Griffin addressed a question to the empty microphone of Mark Ridley Thomas, which drew laughter from the audience. Dr. Smith asked dentist Florian Thompson who had trained at MLK....that if he were senator, would he have endorsed the closure of the hospital, as had Ridley-Thomas and Dr. Thompson said no. Earlier Dr. Smith had pointed to the fact that the reasons for the hospital's closure had more to do with deep funding cuts, and an over crowded Emergency room... and not so much due to an incompetent staff as the LA Times had reported. Dr. Smith points to the fact that for serious threatening injuries, MLK was frequently ranked in the top 10% in the the nation; MLK was the training hospital for the U.S. military's trauma surgeons; and was the designated hospital for visiting U.S. presidentss with injuries. It was the funding cuts which caused the hospital to have protracted waits in the ER, up to 16 hours and more.... and one patient died in the ER before being seen by a physician. State law requires a 1:6 nurse/patient ratio to admit patients from the ER to the floors of the hospital, and while there were empty beds, the hospital had a shortage of nurses that contribtued heavily to it's closure.

Dr. Smith created the first urgent care center in Los Angeles, the Baldwin Hills Medical Center [1983] and says that patient congestion at the MLK ER should have been alleviated by triaging patients to off campus urgent care centers, since up to 70% of patients presenting at hospital ERs are not in need of emergency services and are more appropriately seen at well equipped; well staffed urgent care centers.

Dr. Smith has expressed concern that there have been no All Candidate Debates within the city of Los Angeles and none are scheduled.... pertinent to the upcoming June 3rd election. Dr. Smith is calling upon the pastors who oversee the flock, to research the matter of what appears to be a news media black out of the Second District race...resulting in ... lack of knowledge of "choice" ... in that there are 6 other candidates in the race whose names do no appear in the printed press.... some of whom are highly qualified.

Dr. Smith is also a writer, and a professor of Biblical and Ecclesiastical studies. He taught theology at an extension school of the American Baptist College located at 45th and Wadsworth up until it's closure. Dr. Smith is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Education and Scholarship Commission of the National Baptist Convention USA.

The bible teaches us that "people perish for lack of knowledge" and flock needs direction at this time...from the pastors in that light of knowledge is presently being blocked, leaving them in darkness... concerning the race for county supervisor!

Delaney Smith Pharm.D.,M.D.

Candidate for Los Angeles County Supervisor

Second District

Committee to Elect Dr. Delaney Smith
Los Angeles County
P.O. Box 78-159
Los Angeles, California 90016