WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Whatcom County has addressed the recent dismissal of its health department director but isn’t providing any answers as to why she was let go.

A news release sent out on Friday, March 21 simply states that the Whatcom County Charter provides the County Executive with the power to dismiss unelected officials “at their discretion.”

Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu announced on Wednesday that the county was seeking a new director for Whatcom County Health and Community Services.

Erika Lautenbach served as the department’s director since 2020 and says in a statement that she was surprised to receive a notice of termination that morning. She said she had been concerned about the county executive’s actions for some time and believed her termination was related to those concerns.

Whatcom County Health Officer Dr. Amy Harley has been named acting director of the department until the county council appoints Charlene Ramont as interim director.

The department’s leadership transition will be updated at a meeting of the Whatcom County Health Board and Public Health Advisory Board on April 1.