Published: March 26, 2008 09:25 am         

Baeza challenges Hopkins for hospital board seat

By Libby Cluett
lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com

While Palo Pinto General Hospital board of trustees has three two-year terms expiring this spring. Incumbents Richard Dennis and Kathy Boswell filed unopposed for their respective places and will retain those seats.

Only Place 4, held by Mike Hopkins, is contested. He will face Genevieve Baeza-Rodriguez, who joined the race for the May 10 election.

The Index garnered brief biographical information on the two Place 4 PPGH board candidates, and will follow up between now and the election with questions for each.

What do readers want to know from these candidates? Send your questions for candidates to lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com.

Mike Hopkins, incumbent
Owner of Hoppy’s Bail Bonding, Mike Hopkins, 64, has been a self-employed bail bondsman in Mineral Wells for over 20 years.

Raised in Mineral Wells, Hopkins has been married to Carol Lee Hopkins, also a Mineral Wells native, for 12 years. He has one son who is living in Tennessee.

Hopkins’ education and training includes:
• Graduating from Mineral Wells High School in 1962.

• Graduating with a degree in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington.

• Training and experience as a commercial pilot.

• Completing board training with the Texas Hospital Association and the Texas Healthcare Trustees and is a “recognized trustee” with THT Academy of Governance.

His activities and leadership include:
• Vice president of the PPGH board of trustees, where he currently serves a fourth term. Hopkins also served as Secretary/Treasurer and on numerous committees within the hospital. He was active on building committee instrumental on completing the hospital’s new wing.

• Member of Noon Lion’s Club.

• Member of Texas Bail Bond Association.

Hopkins said his purpose for running is to ensure citizens of Palo Pinto County have quality health care and all citizens are treated equally and fairly.

He cited that his skills include six years of experience and his degree in accounting as providing him with skills he uses on the PPGH board. Additionally, he noted his completion of all Texas Hospital Association training.

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Genevieve Baeza-Rodriguez
Genevieve Baeza-Rodriguez, 70, is owner/operator of Baeza Jewelry and owner/operator of Baeza Check Cashing Service. She is also an agent for Orlandi Valuta, “a service that sends money to South and Central America,” she explained.

Baeza-Rodriguez is married to Ralph Rodriguez, with whom she runs Baeza Check Cashing Service. She has two married children, Jim Baeza and Angela Arndt, and four granddaughters.

Her education and training includes:
• Graduating from Incarnate Word College in Chihuahua, Mexico, also known as Instituto América, as a bilingual stenographer, (interpreter/translator).

• Training in sales.

• Working as a translator for Banco de Londres y Mexico, Kimberly Clark and Pemex in Chihuahua City.

• Training in education as a school registrar.

• Extensive training in the jewelry industry.

Baeza-Rodriguez’s activities and leadership include:
• Member, and served two terms as president, for the Mineral Wells Merchants Association.

• Coordinating the Merchants Association teacher’s breakfast and the scholarship program.

• Attending Southside Church of Christ.

• Serving on Texas Jewelers Association board.

• Former chair of the retail merchants committee with the Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce.

• Former member of Zonta, “where I developed the Zonta local scholarship application system.”

• Serving on “Keep Mineral Wells Beautiful” project.

• Past board member of United Way.

• Past board member of Rails-to-Trails.

Baeza-Rodriguez expressed her purpose for running and skills as follows:
“Because I believe that my time has come to get involved in something meaningful. My husband and I are great supporters of PPGH, because of recent positive experiences we have had with their service. I believe the opportunities to serve all over the place are many, if you choose to look for them.

“By nature, I am a progressive person. I’m a very well-rounded individual.

“When I look at the obstacles that could have prevented me from being successful, they are first that I’m a woman, second that I’m Hispanic, third that the jewelry industry is run primarily by men, with whom many are now my personal friends. Nonetheless, none of these were obstacles that made my past difficult. On the contrary, they provided for my growth in the retail business as well as in life in general.

“One of my skills is organization and tremendous ability to pay attention to detail.

“My public relations are probably my greatest skill. I don’t tend to the rich or to the poor; I tend to the residents of Palo Pinto County.

“I have great respect for the hospital – been observing it since moved to Mineral Wells in 1982 – and what a difference time makes. The hospital we have now, I call ‘the jewel of the county.’”