SPOKANE COUNTY, Wash. — Dr. Bob Lutz issued a statement saying he won't resign as Spokane County Health Officer regardless of the SRHD Administrative Officer's request that he step down.
His statement reads in full:
"In light of the recent events surrounding my employment with the Spokane Regional Health District, I have hired attorney Bryce Wilcox from Lee & Hayes. To be clear, I have not resigned. I maintain a strong desire to continue working to promote the health and safety of the citizens of Spokane County and this region. The manner, timing, and motivation underlying the request I resign is troubling, and I have hired Mr. Wilcox to assist me in pursuing all available legal remedies should the SRHD’s Board decide to terminate my employment. Like everyone else, I am now in limbo and am awaiting word from the Board regarding my employment status. Further information will be forthcoming after I hear from the Board."
The Spokane Regional Health District plans to hold a special meeting where the board will vote to approve or deny Administrative Officer Amelia Clark's request that Lutz is terminated, according to a statement.
There will be at least a 24-hour public notice before the meeting takes place, and the notice will include instructions on how to provide written comments to the board before the meeting.
If the board does approve Clark's request, the Board will then vote on approving Dr. Mary Bergum as interim Health Officer.
Board member and Spokane City Council member Betsy Wilkerson told KREM's Amanda Roley that she doesn't support the decision to ask Dr. Lutz to resign.
Spokane City Council President Breean Beggs, who also serves on the county Board of Health, spoke with KREM's Casey Decker about the situation Friday night, saying that he doesn't know if Lutz is still the Spokane County Health Officer.
"I think it would be fair to say that I don't think anyone thinks he's acting at the health officer. Whether he still holds the official title or not is unclear to me," Beggs said.
Beggs also said there was no reason to expect this prior to the executive meeting, and after the executive session, he didn't expect Lutz to be fired.