OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Department of Health has hired former Spokane Regional Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz as a member of the department's COVID-19 Response Team
According to the WDOH, Lutz accepted an employment offer earlier in the week.
"Dr. Lutz's experience as a local health officer and his clinical expertise will bring great value to our state's response efforts," the state DOH said in its statement.
Lutz led Spokane County's COVID-19 response before he was controversially fired from his role as health officer during a special meeting of the Spokane Regional Health District Board on Nov. 5.
The firing came just less than a week after the SRHD sent out a release saying Lutz had been asked to resign by Administrative Officer Amelia Clark. She ultimately fired Lutz on Thursday, Oct. 29, before a public meeting took place.
Several days after Spokane's board voted to fire Lutz, the state Board of Health voted unanimously to approve a preliminary investigation into Clark's actions.
More recently, at least seven Health Advisory Council members announced on Sunday, Dec. 6 that they were resigning over Clark's actions.
“I am very sorry to see these members of the Spokane Health Advisory Council choose to discontinue their support of the health district during a time when staff are working tirelessly to keep the community healthy and safe during the COVID-19 pandemic,” a statement from Clark responding to the resignations reads in part.
Dr. Francisco "Frank" Velasquez has been working part-time as interim health officer since Lutz's firing.
KREM has reached out to Lutz's legal representation for a statement on his new role with the state Department of Health.