2 out of 3 ain't bad, but 1 out of 4 is terrible

For the first time in years, there is a contested election for seats on the Walker County Hospital District Board of Managers. Two seats are up for election this year, with a total of four candidates. Voters can select up to two candidates of their choice, and the two with the most votes are elected.

The candidates include one longtime incumbent, Joe Sapp; a newcomer to the board, Stephen Antwi, appointed to fill a vacancy earlier this year; and two challengers, Natalie Bodner and Donald Batiste.

To allow all candidates to explain themselves to the public on several issues that have arisen in the past two years, The Huntsvillan reached out to all candidates requesting answers to five questions. At least two outreaches were made to each (for one candidate, through their treasurer) over a three day span.

We heard back from everyone but received answers from only one candidate: Bodner. Batiste promised answers but didn't deliver, Sapp explicitly refused to answer, while Antwi promised nothing and delivered nothing.

The questions and Bodner's answers are printed below.

Natalie Bodner

Tell us a little about yourself, including any credentials or experiences that would help you serve effectively in this position.

I graduated from Texas A&M University and have 16 years of accounting experience in the oil and gas industry. A large part of my job involves analyzing expenditures for contractual and regulatory compliance as well as monitoring and verifying these expenses.

In my free time, I love animals and have volunteered with numerous rescue groups and shelters. My work with these organizations shows the value of service, compassion, and community involvement. I am not a politician or medical expert. I have no ties or allegiance to the hospital. I am a taxpayer and neighbor who wants to see changes in how the Walker County Hospital District operates and communicates with the public.

The transparency of the hospital district has become a central issue, with a number of citizens and news outlets criticizing the openness of the board’s decision-making, and the new district administrator, David Podlin, accusing some of these critics as acting in bad faith. Would you say that transparency is a big problem for the district, a small problem, or no problem at all? What key changes should be made to improve transparency?

I have to agree with the public concern over the lack of transparency in the hospital district. I find the website and board discussions lack substance. I do not believe that the critics are acting in bad faith. They are taxpayers who want to know how their money is spent and have a voice in the discussion.

The best way to counter critics is with information, not to question their motives. Public institutions work best when people trust the process, and that trust depends on openness. To improve transparency, I believe the district should make several changes:

* Post the budget, financial statements, check register, and contracts online.
* Answer public information requests quickly and completely.
* Write agendas in plain, specific language so the public knows in advance what the board will discuss and decide.
* Discuss any new facility, financing, or debt publicly before decisions are made with real opportunity for public comment.
* Consider public comments as part of board discussions before voting.

Transparency isn’t just a buzzword. It is a basic responsibility when you are managing public money.

As reported by The Huntsvillan last year, the WCHD's senior citizen homestead exemption of $150,000 is one of the largest in the state. This lowers senior citizens’ taxes but raises taxes for businesses, renters, and homeowners under 65. Are you comfortable with this homestead exemption, or would you like to see it raised or lowered? Why?

I understand the intent behind an exemption for senior citizens. However, this doesn’t make the burden disappear. It only shifts the burden to the remaining homeowners, renters, businesses, and landowners/farmers.

Instead, I would like to see a rate reduction across the board. I believe the budget has been overestimated for years, as shown by almost $25 million in unassigned reserves (projected to be about $27 million at the end of 2026). Several line items in the 2027 budget could be lowered significantly. The most obvious is the contingency ($3,385,300), which could be removed completely due to given reserves.

Two ambitious hospital bond proposals failed in 2025, and, as The Huntsvillan has reported, inpatient stays at Huntsville Memorial Hospital have trended downward for almost a decade. At the same time, the hospital’s CEO has described the intensive care unit as being very busy. What renovations or expansions do you seeing the hospital needing most over the next decade? How should those be paid for, from tax money, patient revenue, or some combination of the two?

Regarding a “need” for renovations or expansions, I would need more information than what has been provided so far. However, my first thought is that if inpatient stays are declining, could some of that space be transitioned to intensive care? Again, the public needs more information.

The issue of who pays is clearer to me. Voters have spoken. They do not want the heavy burden of hospital facility expenses. I would like to see the district and HMH explore other funding options that do not directly or indirectly place the burden on taxpayers.

In recent years, tax revenue has outstripped the amount spent on indigent care, the district’s primary expenditure, and some critics have argued the district has amassed a fund balance that is too large. Where do you stand on this issue? Is overall taxing and spending in the hospital district too low, too high, or about right? Why?

Taxing and spending are too high. I see no reason to have almost $25 million (and growing) in the general fund with no stated purpose. In my opinion, based on previous years’ expenditures, many of the budget line items are overestimated.

Regarding indigent care, the state mandates a minimum amount a county must provide. That is what the district should budget. Beyond that, individual taxpayers can donate to various charity funds that help with these costs. HMH has the HMH Foundation. Tri-County Behavioral Health can also receive donations. Taxpayers should not be forced into excessive charity when they are struggling themselves. Medical costs are high for everyone, including those who do not qualify for assistance. The hospital district has a responsibility to them as well.