About the Board of Health

Board of Health role

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.

Board of Health responsibilites

• 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

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. Read more about the make up of the Board (181 KB)

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.

View King County Council

• Teresa Mosqueda
  Board of Health Chair
  District 8
  Term expires December 31, 2025
• Reagan Dunn
  District 9
  Term expires December 31, 2025
• Jorge L. Barón
  District 4
  Term expires December 31, 2025
• Sarah Perry
  Alternate member representing the King County Council
  District 3
  Term expires December 31, 2025

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.

View Seattle City Council

• Sara Nelson, Council President
  Term expires December 31, 2025
• Joy Hollingsworth
  Term expires December 31, 2025
• Robert Kettle
  Term expires December 31, 2025
• Mayor Bruce Harrell
  Alternate member representing the Seattle City Council
  Term expires December 31, 2025

Suburban City Elected Members

Members are appointed for 1-year terms by the Sound Cities Association.

• Amy Lam, Councilmember, City of Sammamish
  Term expires December 31, 2025
• Cheryl Rakes, Councilmember, City of Auburn
  Term expires December 31, 2025
• Amy Falcone, Councilmember, City of Kirkland
  Alternate member representing the Sound Cities Association
  Term expires December 31, 2025
• Barb de Michele, Deputy Council President, City of Issaquah
  Alternate member representing the Sound Cities Association
  Term expires December 31, 2025

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.

• Jolene R. Williams, MMC, Councilmember, Snoqualmie Tribe
  Term expires December 31, 2027
• Angela Young, Councilmember, Snoqualmie Tribe
  Alternate member. Term expires December 31, 2027

Public Health, facilities and providers

Members are recommended by the Board and appointed by the King County Council.

• 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, 2027
• Patricia Egwuatu, DO
  Alternate member representing Public Health, Facilities and Providers.
  Term expires December 31, 2025

*Has environmental health expertise

Consumers of Public Health

• Quiana Daniels, BS, RN, LPN*
  Board of Health Vice-Chair
  Term expires December 31, 2025
• Mustafa Mohammed, MBCHB, MHP, AAC
  Term expires December 31, 2027
• LaMont Green (Gullah), DSW
  Alternate member representing Consumers of Public Health
  Term expires December 31, 2027

*Has environmental health expertise

Community stakeholders

• 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