The Gazette
June 28, 2012
Letters to the Editor

Before I retired about a year ago, I was the director of Linn County Mental Health and Developmental Disability Services. It has therefore been painful to me to read in The Gazette about cuts in services. While I am disappointed, I am not surprised.

As the redesign legislation was being formulated, I consistently warned Rep. Renee Schulte and others on the MHDD Redesign Committee that it would take increases in funding to increase the array of services statewide, such that the whole state could provide services comparable to Linn County. I stated my fear that they would end up bringing “equity” statewide by reducing the level of service in Linn County rather than increasing the level of service elsewhere.

As the co-chair of the MHDD Redesign Committee, Schulte had the power to ensure that the funding formula did not harm the residents of Linn County who benefit from the MHDD programs. Unfortunately, she chose a different path and supported a funding formula that cost Linn County millions and resulted in the loss of services for many people with disabilities, or at a minimum, the loss of living and working where they choose.

I do not think Schulte represented Linn County and certainly not Linn County residents with disabilities. If I wanted to elect somebody who would truly represent Linn County, I would vote for her opponent, Art Staed.

Craig E. Wood
Cedar Rapids