‘My Next Chapter’
(Editor’s note: Following is an excerpt from Chris Christensen’s ‘Memoir of ANOTHER Terminated Desert Healthcare District CEO’)
I am very proud of my accomplishments during my 12 years at the District. There were many rewards of my career at the District. It is unfortunate I will be unable to continue to serve the District and the residents. I will also miss not having the opportunity to implement the robust strategic plan that staff and the directors worked on so hard and long to develop.
However, I feel I can leave the District and Foundation with my head held high. Through some challenging times, I maintained my ethics and integrity for which I am proud. Even if it meant losing my job, no one can take my ethics and integrity.
Additional Thoughts – as of June 11, 2026
CEO Terminations
I have an opinion on the terminations of CEO’s #2 & #3 during my tenure and even me, for that matter. In my opinion, had there been earlier intervention by the District’s legal counsel and Board of Directors regarding the issues related to the terminations, I believe the CEOs would have had opportunity to correct the issues prior to termination. Legal counsel had been informed multiple times of the issues that required correction without attention before the issues elevated to the point of no return. I believe this is a failure of both legal counsel and the Board of Directors.
Ethics and Integrity of Board Members
I firmly believe the ethics and integrity of President Barraza are quite questionable for an elected director of the Desert Healthcare District. I personally hope her reelection bid in November is unsuccessful.
Regarding Conflict of Interest of a director, the District’s legal counsel guides the directors to recuse themselves from agenda matters for organizations for which they receive personal financial benefit. However, it is not illegal to participate in agenda items for organizations which they or a spouse sits on the Board of Directors. I personally believe this remains a conflict of interest, as the director’s vote is influenced by their relationship with the external organization and would be biased.
Greg Rodriguez
Interesting news today, June 11, 2026, as Board Director, Vice President Greg Rodriguez, resigned from the DHCD Board effective immediately to pursue the vacant CEO position following the recent termination of the CEO. This comes as a surprise to me, as my employment was terminated after a public meeting May 26, 2026, where I made a public statement regarding improprieties of the District Board and disparaging remarks regarding my ethics and integrity and the harassment of a public employee during my performance evaluation and other situations.
The “Board of Directors voted unanimously” to release me of my duties following this public statement where I identified intentional lack of integrity actions by Board President, Kimberly Barraza. A statement where I publicly committed to maintaining my integrity and not compromising my integrity to the demands of certain Board members.
The termination announcement I received that evening via a phone call from District’s legal counsel, Jeff Scott, included an offer of almost $50,000 to execute a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), which I declined. The following morning, Mr. Scott offered me approximately $100,000 of public funds to execute an NDA. The NDA was to prevent me from pursuing litigation against the District or further speaking out against the Board of Directors. In my opinion, this was “hush money” to keep me quiet and an attempt by Mr. Scott to squash anything that might possibly create a concern for him and the Board.
I declined this offer, as I value my ethics and integrity far more than any dollar amount.
It appears somewhat fishy and questionable that Director Rodriguez has now resigned from his seat on the Board to pursue the CEO position, the same position the Board made an abrupt unanimous vote to terminate just two weeks earlier.
Does this chain of events appear to be infested with behind-the-scenes shenanigans? What is going on at the District? What kind of ethical and integrity issues are brewing?
CEO Recruitment
During the June 10, 2026, Finance & Administration committee meeting, a consulting services proposal for recruitment services was presented from Bob Murray & Associates, the firm who performed the recruitment service3s in 2024. Why only one proposal?
For this type of engagement, the District’s standard operating procedure is to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP). Why is the District by-passing this procedure?
Committee directors had several questions and comments about the proposal. The RFP being one of them. Another was related to cost of the engagement, which is 30% higher than 2024. The proposal will be recommended to the full Board for approval on June 23, 2026.
Another concern I have. With the latest news of Greg Rodriguez’s resignation and intention to pursue the CEO position, will the Board consider a significantly less public recruitment process? Although the recruitment is required to be a public process, will the board opt for a simple advertisement in the Desert Sun or on a job board for a couple of weeks, just to easily appoint Mr. Rodriguez to the CEO position. Time will tell.
Board Vacancy
The District is required to determine a path to fill the Board vacancy. Options may include an appointment or a special election, yet to be determined.
I have concerns about where the Board of Directors is headed. The November 2026 election will include the following directors whose terms expire:
Director Carole Rogers (Zone 2), Director Evett PerezGil (Zone 4), and Director Kimberly Barraza (Zone 6).
Additionally, Anyse Smith’s seat, who was recently appointed to Zone 5, following Director Shorr’s retirement and passing, is required to be in the 2026 election.
Although, I’d like to see Director Rogers run again, I am unsure if she will. I strongly support Director PerezGil who is very ethical and maintains a high level of integrity in her role as a director. On the other hand, Director Barraza is one of the most unethical individuals with lack of integrity I have experienced. I hope there is someone with strong integrity who will run a successful campaign against Director Barraza in Zone 6. The district residents need this.
Now with Zone 1 vacant, who and what will follow? Zone 1 will require a director with an extensive knowledge and passion for the work of the Healthcare District and Foundation. Someone who will support staff and Sowen, the data strategy and social impact consultant the District hired to create a new strategic plan, to drive successful and equitable implementation of the recently adopted new 5- year strategic plan. Someone with integrity to stand up to directors who do not demonstrate the critical integrity for equitable management and disbursement of the District’s assets, including the future $650M hospital lease/purchase receipts.
With my 12 years of experience at the District and with an accumulated five years of interim/full-time CEO experience of the District and Foundation and a resident of Zone 1, I possess the qualifications to fill the Board vacancy and to serve without political or external bias. So, whichever option the District opts for to fill the vacancy, I intend to be there.
You may read Christensen’s full ‘Memoir of ANOTHER Terminated Desert Healthcare District CEO’ by clicking here.
(Editor’s note:) Greg Rodríguez was out of the country the day Christensen was terminated and did not vote on the matter.)
