Dennis Worsham became the first director of the county health department in January 2023. His last day will be July 3.

EVERETT — Gov. Bob Ferguson appointed Snohomish County Health Department Director Dennis Worsham as the state’s new secretary of health on Monday.

His last day working for Snohomish County will be July 3. On July 7, he’ll begin his new role for the state.

“As Washington’s Secretary of Health, I am honored to serve and deeply committed to upholding and strengthening a public health system that is not only resilient, but also more just,” Worsham said in a county press release Monday. “It is critical that we continue to build a system that earns the trust of communities and strives for every person to have equitable access to the care and resources they need to thrive.”

In the 1990s, Worsham began his public health career in Snohomish County as a health educator and disease intervention specialist during the AIDS epidemic. He later began working as manager of the county’s HIV/STD/Hepatitis Program.

In January 2023, Worsham became the first director of the Snohomish County Health Department. In his time as director, the department reopened an STI clinic, launched a mobile health services program and began renovations of the department’s Everett headquarters. Worsham also worked to increase public health funding for the county, the release said.

“Public health is not just about addressing illness and injury — it’s about preventing them,” Worsham said. “It’s about preparing for the unexpected, addressing root causes of health inequities, and investing in systems that protect people before a crisis begins. We must ensure health and well-being is not a privilege but a shared foundation for all.”

County Executive Dave Somers congratulated Worsham in a press release Monday, saying he was “the right leader at the right time” for the county.

“He took on the role at a time when there were many new opportunities and challenges – the former Health District had just integrated into County government as a new department, and public health was in the midst of a long response to a devastating pandemic as well as ongoing epidemics like the drug crisis,” Somers said. “(Worsham) has never wavered in his support of local public health and the talented team that works to keep our county healthy.”

From 2014 to 2016, Worsham served as the deputy secretary for health for the state. He has held multiple positions at Public Health – Seattle & King County, including interim director of public health during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Worsham is well positioned to lead the Department of Health,” Ferguson said in a press release Monday. “His decades of experience and broad skillset will help chart a new vision for public health in Washington state.”

Worsham is a lifelong Washingtonian. He grew up in Othello and holds a bachelor’s degree in health services administration from Eastern Washington University.

Snohomish County will begin its recruitment process for a new director in the coming weeks, county health department spokesperson Jeff Hodson said in the release.

“Together, we’ve navigated challenges, built solutions, and strengthened the foundation of health justice in Snohomish County,” Worsham wrote in an internal message to Snohomish County Health Department Staff on Monday. “Your passion and resilience have shaped my leadership, and I carry forward these lessons with profound respect and appreciation.”

Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.

Gallery

Secretary of State Steve Hobbs has a simple response to President Donald Trump’s executive order on election integrity: “Washington’s elections are secure, transparent, and built on the work of experienced state and local officials who are committed to upholding the integrity and accessibility of our election process.”

Trump signed an executive order this week that includes requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and directs election officials to record and verify citizenship. But it also requires all votes to be received by Election Day, which Hobbs noted “directly conflicts with Washington law.”

Hobbs, a Democrat, said the president’s order “could jeopardize” the process of preserving the “free, fair, and accessible voting system that Washingtonians have come to trust.”

“This executive order undermines decades of bipartisan work that has made Washington’s elections a national model,” he said in a statement. “The Office of the Secretary of State will work closely with the Washington Attorney General’s Office to defend our state’s authority under the U.S. Constitution and ensure that every eligible Washingtonian can continue to make their voice heard.”

WAGOP jumps into the mix

Concurrent to the president’s executive order, the Republican National Committee, with the partnership of the Washington State Republican Party (WAGOP), is asking secretaries of state “to provide detailed methodology on how each state maintains its voter databases.”

WAGOP Chairman Jim Walsh previously asked the Trump administration to order an audit of the state’s “Motor Voter Law.” He contends it’s a “dubious practice of automatically registering to vote anyone who applies for or renews a driver’s license—even if they are NOT in the United States legally.”

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Politics & Government Who will helm WA’s health care agencies? Ferguson announces 2 temporary appointments

Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson on Thursday announced two temporary health-care agency appointments.

Jessica Todorovich will serve as acting secretary of the Department of Health, and MaryAnne Lindeblad has been named acting director of the Health Care Authority (HCA). Both appointments take effect Wednesday, Jan. 15.

“We must reform our health care system to lower costs and improve access for Washingtonians,” Ferguson said in a Jan. 9 news release. “I am thankful these experienced individuals are stepping into such critical roles while we conduct a national search for these important positions.”

For the past dozen years, Todorovich has served as the health department’s chief of staff, and she’s worked in state government for more than 25 years, according to the release. She is tasked with overseeing the agency’s daily operations with a focus on service delivery, culture and people.

Jessica Todorovich will serve as acting secretary of the Department of Health. Courtesy

Lindeblad has worked as the state’s Medicaid director and her resume features various other health-related roles, including with HCA and the Department of Social and Health Services. She also has served as assistant administrator of the Public Employees Benefits Board and today sits on boards including the Olympia Free Medical Clinic and the Arcora Foundation, among others.

MaryAnne Lindeblad has been named acting director of the Health Care Authority. Courtesy

Earlier this week, Ferguson tapped Julie Meredith, assistant secretary of the Washington State Department of Transportation, to lead that agency. Two reappointments were also announced Monday: Charlie Clark as director of the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions and Michael MacKillop as executive director of the Washington State Department of Services for the Blind.

Ferguson has made a string of appointments — and reappointments — over the past several weeks. Tim Lang was picked to helm the Department of Corrections, for instance, and Joel Sacks was reappointed to head the Department of Labor and Industries.

Ferguson said in November that he was seeking to fill leadership roles at nine state agencies, including at the health department and HCA.

Editor’s note: This is a live account of the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, as the day unfolded. It is no longer being updated. Click here to see all the most recent local politics news.

It’s Election Day. Across the U.S., voters will decide who they want to lead the country, and in Washington, they’ll also decide who they want to lead the state.

Throughout Tuesday, on this page, we’ll be updating readers on voting and elections in Seattle, Washington state and across the United States.

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