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About the Board of Health
Learn about the responsibilities of the Board of Health and its current membership roster.
What the Board of Health does:
The role of the Board is to advocate for the preservation, promotion, and protection of public health, prevent the spread of disease, set local public health regulations and some fees and licenses, and enforce state and local public health laws. These duties are enumerated in RCW 70.05.060. The Board of Health does not have appropriation (budget) authority. Additionally, the Board takes a racial equity approach to its work and expects its members to be committed to racial equity and ending the impacts of racism on health.
The Board is responsible for:
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Passing rules and regulation
Passing rules and regulations pertaining to public health (not health care) most typically around issues relating to the spread of communicable disease, nuisances like rodents, septic systems, and food establishments like restaurants. For example, the Board sets fees that the Health Department charges for restaurant inspections, creates rules to control of rabies in pets, and establishes laws such as regulating e-cigarettes. -
Creating and passing resolutions
Creating and passing resolutions, which are policy statements in support of projects or programs. Resolutions are not legally enforceable, but represent the voice of the Board in support of such issues as supporting funding for public health and declaring racism to be a public health crisis. -
Developing guidelines and recommendations
Using expert testimony and research, the Board creates guidelines and recommendations that may be adopted by various entities. For example, the Board has developed guidelines for healthy vending machines and recommendations for the components of healthy housing.
Current membership roster of the King County Board of Health
In 2023, the Board expanded to include 8 non-elected members and 4 non-elected alternate members to comply with a change in state law. The American Indian Health Commission of Washington State named a member and alternate. The remaining 7 Board members and 3 alternates represent public health consumers, healthcare, and other community stakeholders, including individuals with expertise in environmental health. In addition, the Board includes members representing the King County Council, the City of Seattle, and Sound Cities Association.
The Board of Health meets on the third Thursday of each month at 1 pm in the Metropolitan King County Council Chambers, unless otherwise specified, or through remote access.
Metropolitan King County Councilmembers
King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave, Suite #1200, Seattle, WA 98104
Members are appointed for 1-year terms by the King County Council.
- Teresa Mosqueda
Board of Health Chair
District 8
Term expires December 31, 2024 - Reagan Dunn
District 9
Term expires December 31, 2024 - Jorge L. Barón
District 4
Term expires December 31, 2024 - Sarah Perry
Alternate member representing the King County Council
District 3
Term expires December 31, 2024
City of Seattle Representatives
Seattle City Hall, 600 Fourth Ave. 2nd Floor, Seattle, WA, 98104
Members are appointed for 1-year terms by the Seattle City Council.
- Sara Nelson, Council President
Term expires December 31, 2024 - Joy Hollingsworth
Term expires December 31, 2024 - Robert Kettle
Term expires December 31, 2024 - Mayor Bruce Harrell
Alternate member representing the Seattle City Council
Term expires December 31, 2024
Suburban City Elected Members
Members are appointed for 1-year terms by the Sound Cities Association.
- Penny Sweet, Councilmember, City of Kirkland
Term expires December 31, 2024 - Heather Koellen, Councilmember, City of North Bend
Board of Health Vice-Chair
Term expires December 31, 2024 - Cheryl Rakes, Councilmember, City of Auburn
Alternate member representing the Sound Cities Association
Term expires December 31, 2024 - Amy Lam, Councilmember, City of Sammamish
Alternate member representing the Sound Cities Association
Term expires December 31, 2024
Tribal Representatives
Members are identified by the American Indian Health Commission of Washington State and appointed by the King County Council. They may represent a tribe or charitable organization that serves American Indian and Alaska Native people within King County.- Esther Lucero (Diné), MPP, Seattle Indian Health Board
Term expires December 31, 2024 - Abigail Echo-Hawk (Pawnee), MA, Seattle Indian Health Board
Alternate member. Term expires December 31, 2024
Public Health, Facilities and Providers
Members are recommended by the Board and appointed by the King County Council.
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Butch de Castro, PhD, MSN/MPH, RN, FAAN*
Term expires December 31, 2026 -
Lisa Chew, MD, MPH
Term expires December 31, 2026 -
Katherine Gudgel, MS*
Term expires December 31, 2024 -
Patricia Egwuatu, DO
Alternate member representing Public Health, Facilities and Providers.
Term expires December 31, 2025
*Has environmental health expertise
Consumers of Public Health
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Quiana Daniels, BS, RN, LPN*
Board of Health Vice-Chair
Term expires December 31, 2025 -
Robin Narruhn, PhD, MN, RN
Term expires December 31, 2024 -
Mustafa Mohammed, MBCHB, MHP, AAC
Alternate member representing Consumers of Public Health.
Term expires December 31, 2024
*Has environmental health expertise
Community Stakeholders
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Victor Loo
Term expires December 31, 2025 -
Christopher Archiopoli
Term expires December 31, 2026 -
Francoise Milinganyo
Alternate member representing Community Stakeholders.
Term expires December 31, 2026
Public Health — Seattle & King County staff
- Faisal Khan, Director of Public Health — Seattle & King County
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Joy Carpine-Cazzanti, Government Relations – Board of Health, King County Council and Sound Cities Association Cities
Board of Health Administrator