THE SAN FRANCISCO Health Service System Board, which manages health care benefits for current and retired city employees, isn't a high-profile political post. But the board oversees a $43 million trust fund that some members fear is being quietly raided for other purposes.

Three of the seven members are elected by current and retired employees, and there's a quiet race going on right now for one of those board positions, pitting Sharon Johnson, who has worked as an aide to both former supervisor Harry Britt and former state senator John Burton, against John Madden, a retired assistant controller. Madden's big moment of fame came back in the early 1980s, when a major public power initiative was on the city ballot and Madden was doing the controller's analysis of its likely cost. His method: he called PG&E and asked company officials what they thought the cost would be, then put an inflated, inaccurate utility figure – without question or challenge – in the ballot handbook.

Madden is exactly the wrong person for this job. Johnson is an excellent candidate. The vote is taking place now, by mail. City employees should return the ballots and vote for Sharon Johnson.