Jack Hickey has made a name for himself in San Mateo County by challenging the establishment during election season.

This year is no different.

Not content with two years left in his term on the Sequoia Healthcare District board, Hickey is taking aim at two other board members running for re-election in November. Veteran board members Malcolm “Nappy” McNaughton and Katie Kane are seeking re-election.

Hickey believes if he earns more votes than his counterparts, it will offer public validation of his mission to have it stop collecting taxes. If he wins one of the two available seats, Hickey will be forced to give up his current position on the board. That vacant mid-term position will either be put to a special election or the board will appoint a replacement. There are two years left on his term.

Either way, Hickey will remain the dissenting vote on the five-member board.

The board could chose to appoint McNaughton or Kane to Hickey’s vacated position after losing their own seat, but Hickey’s “not sure that would make them look good.”

If Hickey wins the seat, he will begin looking for a candidate to fill his vacated seat.

Hickey’s group, Citizen Advocates for Private Philanthropy, funded the campaigns of Sonny Sigler and Warren Gibson against McNaughton and Kane in 2004.

Hickey is vowing to again campaign vigorously through his CAPP group.

“I’m going to pursue this like I never did before,” Hickey said.

Hickey was elected to the Sequoia Healthcare board six years ago.

McNaughton has been on the board since his appointment 11 years ago. He worked in real estate and has a background in investment banking. While working in the banking industry, he worked with hospitals. He used to sit on the hospital’s board, a separate organization in charge of major hospital decisions.

Kane, who has been on the board for 16 years, is a human resource consultant with her own business. She used to work in the health care industry and was vice president at a medical center before starting her own business.

Two years ago, the board decided to use the tax dollars it collects to help fund a new Sequoia Hospital. In the same deal, the board relinquished much of its hospital oversight. Much of the tax dollars it collects is distributed to healthcare nonprofits in San Mateo County.

Hickey said it has lost its authority and should not collect tax dollars to distribute to philanthropic groups.

Kim Griffin, a registered nurse, is also running for a seat on the board.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106.