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Washington Health Board To Hear Lutz Firing Complaint On Monday

Screenshot of Stuckart complaint

Former Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart and others have filed a complaint with the Washington State Board of Health. They want the board to investigate the process the Spokane Regional Health District used to remove Health Officer Bob Lutz from his job.

Lutz was fired Thursday night by the county health board during a four-hour virtual public meeting. That meeting was called after the public learned that Administrative Officer Amelia Clark had reportedly relieved Lutz of his duties the week before, in violation of health district bylaws.

Stuckart’s complaint asks the state Health Department to investigate the case, including whether the health district board violated open meetings laws. He’s convinced the case is not about Lutz’s misconduct, but about his political views.

“From Al French’s statements complaining about Dr. Lutz supporting the Black Lives Matter movement during the public meeting to Mayor Woodward being very clear that the city needed a new direction in its health officer and actually celebrating the fact that somebody just lost their job," he said.

Stuckart’s complaint is on the state Health Board’s meeting agenda for Monday afternoon.