Olympic Medical Center's board of commissioners approved a 10-percent raise for CEO Eric Lewis, raising his annual salary from $160,000 to $176,000.

The board voted unanimously for the bump during its regular meeting Wednesday, June 20.

It was the first raise for Lewis since he accepted the position in 2006.

Not everyone was happy with the decision.

Before the vote was taken, Sequim resident Sam Woods addressed the board. He referred to recent contentious contract negotiations between hospital management and the employees represented by the Service Employees International Union, saying, "Over the past 18 months you've pretty much beat the spit out of the nurses. Now the CEO isn't getting paid enough?"

"I'm astounded at the different way this hospital treats different employees."

Board president John Miles asked Woods if he would have approved if the board had provided Lewis with 2-percent raises each year.

"No," Woods said. "He's making too much already."

The board members were unmoved by Woods' argument. During the discussion of the raise board member Jim Cammack said, "I don't think (Lewis) is paid enough."

He praised Lewis's work in putting together the hospital's new tertiary care agreement with Swedish Medical Center. 

Board member John Nutter, a former finance director for the center, agreed. He noted that the hospital has a policy of paying "market wages." He said Lewis could earn as much as $300,000 in a similar position elsewhere.

"I don't think the raise is enough," he said.

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