Removal of John Chaudier

As a member of the Ventura County Mental Health Board for a number of years, I am shocked by the action of the Board of Supervisors in removing John Chaudier from his role as its chair.

Members of the board, including myself, have had occasional disagreements with Mr. Chaudier on concerns of policy and strategy. But loyalty toward him and respect for his devotion and hard work as chair have continued strong.

Mr. Chaudier has been a very fair and efficient moderator and leader of the group. I personally disagreed with him on his conclusions about events and policies voted upon, but this has never dulled my respect for him or his patience, consideration and equanimity.

Particularly during the past two years of consternation about activities and policies of the Behavioral Health Department and its role within the health agency, Mr. Chaudier’s job has been a difficult one. His own recent and misplaced criticism of the director of the Behavioral Health Department--a surprise neither formally discussed nor previously passed by the board--was clearly uncalled-for. Nevertheless, no single board member in my decade of awareness of board activities has contributed more to public goals for Behavioral Health clients.

In view of Mr. Chaudier’s unusual contributions, it is regrettable that the supervisors chose to alter the traditional permission granted to the Mental Health Board to choose its own leadership--and discipline it, when appropriate.

EDWARD SHUCK

Thousand Oaks