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Candidates call for caution, transparency on potential sale of Williamson Health hospital
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Summary
Mary Smith urged time and community input on a possible hospital sale, citing its role and workforce; Andy Marshall said the county should follow state law and consider placing proceeds in a trust to sustain health services rather than immediately using funds to pay debt.
The potential sale of the county hospital drew strong attention at the forum. Panelists asked whether candidates support a sale and how any proceeds should be spent.
Mary Smith said the topic is emotional for many residents and urged delay while the county seeks community feedback and transparency. "This is something that's an important part of our community," Smith said, noting the hospital has been part of the community for 70 years and employs more than 1,000 people.
Andy Marshall said the county should follow state law and indicated a preference for placing some sale proceeds into a trust to preserve services the county relies on. "We're gonna follow that law," Marshall said, adding he would consider using a trust to cover services currently provided by the hospital and that other funds could be directed to long-term projects.
Both candidates said they would await more information before endorsing specific spending plans. The forum did not produce a decision; the hospital board's process and any state-level actions remain ongoing.
