I’m taking the day off, but I want to offer links to the ongoing controversy over the firing of our Health Officer, Dr. Bob Lutz, in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. As you read, consider that Commissioner Al French gets almost no mention in this drama, even though he was the dominant character and motion offerer at the Spokane Regional Health District’s Board of Health meeting at which Dr. Lutz was formally fired. Amelia Clark, the relatively inexperienced Administrator of SRHD, is in the headlights. Does anyone really imagine that Ms. Clark, on her very own initiative, decided to fire Dr. Lutz on October 29th just as Covid cases were spiking in the County, a firing that was clearly not authorized by the Bylaws of the BOH? Commissioner French and Sheriff Knezovich must be delighted not to be sharing the glare of the headlights. Mayor Woodward, perhaps a little less politically saavy, is working on damage control over her comment, “the best news I’ve heard in a long time.”
Two local reporters, Samantha Wohlfeil of The Inlander, and Arielle Dreyer of the Spokesman have been following the controversy swirling around Ms. Clark and Tuesday’s State Board of Health meeting addressing Clark’s action.
Wohlfeil (no paywall): Washington Board of Health to investigate claims SRHD administrator broke law by firing Lutz
Dreyer (possible paywall): State health board approves investigation into firing of Dr. Bob Lutz
Keep to the high ground,
Jerry