Ad campaign drums up support to keep Valenti

El Paso County hospital’s CEO say’s he’s leaving.

So can newspaper and radio ads intended to gather support for Jim Valenti to stay in El Paso change anything?

The campaign is called Viva Valenti! And although amid the Children’s Hospital bankruptcy Valenti promised to step down at UMC when his contract expires in May, there are some who want him to stay!

“Every once in a while a person comes along who changes an entire community for the better,” states the 60-second Viva Valenti! radio ad.

Those radio ads, along with several half-page newspaper ads, and a campaign online and on social media, have been attempting to drum up support for Valenti the past week.

“Mr. Valenti has overseen the investment of 315 million dollars in hospital improvements,” the radio ad goes on to state.

Valenti is credited for turning around the financially strapped Thomason hospital, nearly doubling its size and turning it into the UMC campus, praised for its quality care.

But he also has many vocal detractors.

Commissioners Court accused him of misleading them, and doctors at the Children’s hospital said they’d never trust him.

ABC-7 found this tweet: “Haters gonna hate … but this guy has done a lot of good for El Paso #ItsAllGoodEP #VivaValenti

UMC Board Chair Steve DeGroat told ABC-7 he doesn’t know anything about the campaign.

“We met with a group of doctors last week and I told them (Valenti) came to me three or four months ago and said, ‘You know, I’m not going to ask for my contract extension.’ For his sake and the sake of the hospital, I think it’s time for a change.”

DeGroat told ABC-7 he thought that Dr. Hani Annabi, a local urologist, was behind the ad campaign. However, he told ABC-7 although he does support Valenti, he is not the force behind the Viva Valenti ads.

“He’s done a wonderful job,” Annabi said. “We are where we are today because of his efforts and hard work.”

Annabi said he hopes to address the issue with Commissioners Court. Valenti did not respond to requests for an interview. UMC officials said the hospital is not involved.

The ad says it’s “Paid for by the committee to keep James Valenti” and it’s being placed out of a Las Cruces ad agency.