WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A new high ranking county official has been appointed.

The Whatcom County Council approved the appointment of Deborah Arthur to the role of Deputy Executive on Tuesday, April 14.

Arthur will work alongside fellow Deputy Exec Kayla Schott-Bresler under Executive Satpal Sidhu.

Previously to this appointment, Arthur worked as EMS Administrator for the county and Associate Director for University Residences at WWU.

Arthur has also served as a firefighter and EMT in Marietta for the Lummi Nation.

The county says she will work alongside Schott-Bresler as Administrative Services Director, overseeing finance, IT and human resources among other responsibilities.

This comes as Whatcom County still looks to find a Medical Examiner.

Executive spokesperson Jed Holmes says Whatcom County had sought to hire a second Deputy Executive after Aly Pennucci left the role at the end of 2025.