At the Feb. 5, 2025, Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health regular meeting, Board members elected Tacoma City Council Member Joe Bushnell to serve as Board Chair and Pierce County Council Chair Jani Hitchen to serve as Vice Chair for 2025.
Hitchen had served as Board of Health Chair since June 2024, when she succeeded Catherine Ushka. Bushnell was elected Vice Chair at that time.
“All of our Board Members play an integral role in our work to help keep this community healthy and safe,” said Director of Public Health Chantell Harmon Reed. “Both Chair Bushnell and Vice Chair Hitchen have provided excellent guidance and support for public health since joining the Board. Their continued leadership will benefit everyone in Tacoma and Pierce County.”
Bushnell joined the Board as an alternate in 2021. He is a Tacoma native and graduate of Stadium High School. He currently lives in the South End. On the Tacoma Council, he is Vice Chair of the Government, Performance and Finance Committee, and he serves on the Economic Development Committee.
“I am thankful to my colleagues for entrusting me to serve as Chair of the Board of Health,” Chair Bushnell said. “As the previous Vice Chair of the Board of Health, and previously as a volunteer on Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department’s Food Advisory Board, I have seen firsthand how impactful public health can be on people’s lives and, in particular, on our most vulnerable community members. I am honored to serve in this new leadership capacity.”
Hitchen previously served as Vice Chair from January 2023 until she became Chair. She is a longtime Parkland resident. In addition to serving as Chair on the Pierce County Council, she is also Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, and a member of other Council committees, including Public Safety and Performance Audit. She is also a member of the Washington State Public Health Advisory Board.
“I am honored to continue to be part of the leadership for the Board of Health,” Vice Chair Hitchen said. “I am excited to work with Chair Bushnell, who has taken this work seriously and brings great questions and ideas to our Board meetings.”
In addition to the change in leadership, the Board also welcomes:
- Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello as a member and LeighBeth Merrick as his alternate.
- Tacoma City Council Member Sandesh Sadalge as a member.
- Tacoma City Council Member Olgy Diaz as an alternate.
- Pierce County Council Member Brian Yambe representing the County. He served as the representative for Pierce County Cities and Towns Association before.
Board Members also nominated Chair Bushnell, Vice Chair Hitchen and Board Member Dr. Nicholas Rajacich to serve on the finance committee.
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is an independent government agency with an appointed policymaking body. The Board of Health meets every month on the first and third Wednesday.
Pierce County Council appoints 3 regular members. Tacoma City Council appoints 1 regular member. Both the Pierce County Executive and the Tacoma Mayor serve on the Board of Health and may delegate the position if desired. Board members serve 2-year terms. Pierce County Cities and Towns Association appoints a regular member and Pierce County Medical Society appoints a regular member.