Name: Randy Schwartze
Age: 56
Hometown: Martinsburg
Occupation: Registered nurse
Position sought: Audrain Ambulance District Board of Directors
Previous political experience: Martinsburg Area Fire Protection District board member, recently appointed
Why are you running and why should people vote for you?
I am running for the Audrain Ambulance District Board of Directors to help ensure our community continues to receive high-quality emergency medical care. I am a Registered Nurse who formally worked in the Emergency Department of a Level 1 trauma center, and as an EMT-B/Patient Care Tech in the same department during the COVID-19 pandemic, I also served as a first responder during those years. I have seen firsthand how high-quality EMS care in the field contributes to better outcomes in the hospital. I am committed to using those experiences to support our dedicated medics and EMTs to ensure our community continues to receive the care they need in times of crisis. Thank you for your consideration.
What are your goals if elected?
If elected, my goals would include supporting employee well-being and retention to ensure our medics and EMTs have the resources and support they need. I will prioritize vehicle maintenance and readiness, which is critical given the extended drive times to hospitals from our rural community. I am also interested in exploring possible coverage gaps caused by extended drive times to help ensure timely, high-quality emergency care is always available when every minute counts.
What issues are most pressing for your constituency?
I believe the most pressing issues for our community include timely access to emergency medical care due to extended drive times and increased workloads on our medics and EMTs, making employee well-being and retention a critical concern. I am committed to exploring solutions, including new ways to safely transport non-critical patients, to ensure our community continues to receive timely, high-quality emergency medical care.
