Last week, Washington Dental Service (“Delta”) held its first annual meeting in three years and, earlier today, announced the “election” results for the member dentist board positions. The results were as follows:

Official Election Results 

861 members were present in person, or by proxy, at the Annual Meeting, constituting a quorum.  

Election of Directors

Not a single candidate received more than a third of the votes cast. Delta’s Bylaws state that: “a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on a matter… shall be necessary for the adoption thereof unless a greater proportion is required by law or by these Bylaws.”

Despite not receiving a majority of the votes cast, Delta proclaimed that its handpicked candidates are duly elected, claiming that the “majority standard” for member dentist elections would not be followed. 

We unequivocally object to the nomination and election process Delta used during the 2019 Annual Meeting. 
 
During last Friday’s meeting, Delta’s new CEO gave a report about his “listening tour” with members and his vision for the future of the organization. The candidates for the member dentist positions on Delta’s Board of Directors also addressed a change in culture due in large part to having a new CEO. In essence, the theme of the 2019 Annual Meeting was: it’s a new day at Delta, and member dentists are now respected and appreciated. 

We want to take a moment to recognize the newly “elected” board for its stated eagerness to drive change at Delta. We must also acknowledge that this welcome shift in tone would not have occurred without Delta member dentists standing together to demand change for the past two years.

However, what occurred before and during the 2019 Annual Meeting was not an example of this proclaimed new direction. It was yet another example of Delta riding roughshod over the governance rights of its member dentists. Words and faces have changed, but, so far, actions remain the same.

In the meantime, we will continue our legal efforts in support of the bylaws approved by member dentists.

Sincerely,

Dr. ​Dennis L. Bradshaw
Dr. Ashley Ulmer
Dr. Nathan G. Russell
Dr. Christopher Delecki
Dr. Kristine M. Aadland
Dr. Marissa N. Bender
Dr. Amy J. Cook
Dr. Joseph Y. de Jesus
Dr. Chris E. Dorow
Dr. John L. Gibbons
Dr. Todd R. Irwin
Dr. Christine L. Kirchner
Dr. Mark Koday
Dr. Blake McKinley
Dr. Kim D. Nordberg
Dr. Patrick Sharkey

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Comments on Frequently Asked Questions

A plurality standard vs. a majority standard
Delta asserts that “In 2008, the Bylaws were amended to include a ‘majority voting’ standard for Member Director elections under which the number of withheld votes counted as ‘no’ votes; this standard was eliminated by the Members in the Special Meeting called by member petition in 2011.” We are looking into this, but do not believe this to be accurate. It is our understanding that Mark Mitchke advised a WDS member the day before the 2019 Annual Meeting that a plurality standard would be applied. We do not believe this was correct.

Was the WSDA aware before the Annual Meeting? 
It is our understanding that Mark Mitchke advised a WDS member the day before the 2019 Annual Meeting that a plurality standard would be applied.