Snohomish County health officer tapped for state board

EVERETT — Gov. Bob Ferguson has appointed Snohomish County Health Officer Dr. James Lewis to the Washington State Board of Health, the Snohomish County Health Department announced in a press release Friday.

The appointment went into effect Thursday. Lewis will serve on the board until July 1, 2029. Lewis will continue serving as the county’s health officer.

Lewis’ seat represents local health officers, and he was nominated for the position by the state’s current health officers. The State Board of Health has 10 members, including Secretary of Health Dennis Worsham, the former director of the Snohomish County Health Department. The remaining nine members are appointed by a governor. The board meets eight times per year to analyze public health policies and develop rules.

“I’m honored to work with fellow board members,” Lewis said in the release. “The board works on a wide range of policies and issues – including community water fluoridation, reducing exposure to harmful environmental toxins like lead, and ensuring our ability to monitor diseases – that protect and promote the health of all Washingtonians.”

https://www.heraldnet.com/2026/05/08/snohomish-county-health-officer-tapped-for-state-board/