2 CHALLENGERS ELECTED TO BOARD; VOTERS SNUB INCUMBENT; VICTORS PLEDGE HOSPITAL REFORMS.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

Rejecting the sole incumbent in the Antelope Valley Hospital board race, voters elected two challengers who criticized high administrative salaries and campaigned for financial responsibility.

Donald Bean, a retired doctor, and Lancaster Finance Director Gary Hill pledged to raise staff morale and improve health care services in the south Antelope Valley.

``I hope (the win) means that employees know that there is somebody interested in making sure employees are rewarded for what they do, either through better staffing or better pay,'' Bean said. ``That will increase morale, which will boost the level of the quality of care that we provide, resulting in patients who are more pleased with the care.''

Bean and Hill were endorsed by hospital directors Steve Fox and Deborah Rice, who have often formed the dissenting end of 3-2 board votes and who weren't up for re-election.

Incumbent Shirley Sayles, a retired nursing administrator running for her second term, finished in third place.

While she wished the winners well, she said the race ``was a major smear campaign, and it sickened me to the pit of my stomach.''

In a news conference two weeks before the election, Fox and Rice accused Sayles of being unethical and engaging in financial quids pro quo with ousted hospital administrator Bob Harenski, allegations Sayles denied.

Sayles in turn called Fox a liar and said he was conducting a personal attack against her because she had caught him cheating on expense claims. She also accused Fox and Rice of spending most of their time creating dissension.

Both Bean and Hill said they didn't think there was a smear campaign.

``I don't think any of the negative information was invented. Unfortunately, Shirley Sayles got linked to an unpopular situation,'' said Bean, who retired as medical director of Antelope Valley Medical Group in 1996.

``The board majority and Shirley Sayles were there for four years and did not fulfill its financial responsibility of making sure the dollars were spent properly,'' said Hill, who served as the hospital's chief accountant from 1977 through 1980.

Bean and Hill join a board that has been racked for months by division and controversy that ended in the ouster of Harenski in a dispute over his six-figure salary.

In September, nine months after extending Harenski's contract four more years, the board paid him $275,000 to leave. Fox and Rice opposed extending Harenski's contract. Sayles was for it.

While Bean and Hill were endorsed by Fox and Rice, hospital directors Dr. John Manning, who did not seek re-election, and Larry Chimbole supported Sayles and candidate Dr. John Birsner Sr., the former hospital radiology director.

Bean said he will address the staffing and pay issue to help improve morale and work on improving medical services in Palmdale and the surrounding areas. Palmdale's only hospital closed in March 1996.

Hill said he will work on improving morale and services in the south valley. He said he will also move to have more openness at the board level with more public access to information.