Thomason Hospital ending fiscal year 2007 with a record breaking $39 million in net income was a clear sign that the hospital's once dismal future is now wide open, hospital officials said Monday.

Commissioners Court approved the El Paso County Hospital District's audited financial statement for the last fiscal year during the court's regular meeting.

"It was our highest performance in our 92-year history," hospital district CEO Jim Valenti said. "We are very grateful to El Pasoans for supporting Thomason and the hospital district."

The increase in funds in 2007 is used to recruit new doctors and nurses, repair the facility, build new facilities and pay for health care for more El Pasoans.

The hospital recorded a $13 million loss in 2004, a $5 million loss in 2005 and a $16 million gain in 2006. As it continues to improve, interest has intensified in its operations.

A topic of concern that was discussed during the meeting was the upcoming three appointments that must be made to the hospital district's seven-member board of managers. The terms of board members Dr. Carlos Gutierrez and Arturo "Tury" Duran and board chairman Ron Acton expire at the end of March.

Gutierrez may not be eligible for reappointment to the seat appointed by Commissioner Dan Haggerty according to term limits that were approved by the court last year after several weeks of disagreement about how the board members should be selected.

Haggerty said he would like to see Gutierrez continue to serve on the board.

Commissioner Veronica Escobar said she will not nominate Duran for reappointment to the seat in her district. Duran was appointed to the seat in 2006 by then-Commissioner Betti Flores.

"Obviously I will not be renominating him. I asked him to step down last summer and he's missed a dozen board meetings and refused to sign the board pledge," Escobar said.

In the "information" document generated when former county judge's chief of staff John Travis Ketner pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy charges last year, Duran was not named but he and other uncharged co-conspirators were referred to as John CC or Jane CC with accompanying descriptions that allowed their identities to be easily discerned.

In the document, he was described as an intermediary and "bag man" for companies and elected officials, making payments to officials to secure contracts. In May 2007, the FBI searched Duran's home, as well as the offices of Commissioners Miguel Terán and Luis Sariñana and County Judge Anthony Cobos. None have been charged with any wrongdoing.

Flores has since pleaded guilty to federal charges, and has admitted to trading her vote for money.

Board chairman Ron Acton's position is at-large and he is eligible to be reappointed.

"Mr. Acton is rotating off, but we want him to come back," Valenti said.

Cobos said during the meeting that he would like to avoid situations that occurred last year when special interest groups tried to get him to appoint certain people to the board.

"I don't think the big money people should dictate who is on the Thomason board," he said.

Escobar said if the court begins the process to select members now, they can be selected by next month.

Erica Molina Johnson may be reached at emolina@elpasotimes.com; 546-6132.