On February 18 at the regular meeting of the Kittitas County Public Hospital District 2 Board of Commissioners, Melissa Becker was chosen to fill the vacancy on the Board of Commissioners. This five-member governing body oversees the operations of the public hospital district that covers Upper Kittitas County. Kittitas County Public Hospital District No. 2 provides ambulance services to Upper Kittitas County residents through Upper Kittitas County Medic One. KCPHD #2 also partners with Kittitas Valley Healthcare to provide urgent care services to the residents of District #2 through KVH Urgent Care – Cle Elum.
KCPHD #2 solicited letters of interest following the resignation of Claire Hein Nicholls effective January 1, 2019. The Board had recently conducted a thorough self-assessment to identify its strengths and weaknesses. The results of the assessment suggested the Board look for candidates who would be representative of District #2’s community, plus experience or community connections in the areas of local businesses, community involvement and philanthropy. Two candidates who had exceptional strength in these areas participated in interviews.
“Melissa Becker brings an expertise in financial management and years of experience in charities and volunteerism that will greatly benefit Hospital District #2,” said Floyd Rogalski, President of the Board of Commissioners for Kittitas County Public Hospital District No. 2. “In addition to 20 years in the corporate financial world and thirteen years teaching finance and accounting at Central Washington University, Ms. Becker has a long history of philanthropic work with Upper Kittitas County Dollars for Scholars and the Cle Elum-Roslyn School District. She has served as Race Director for The Runner Stumbles, benefiting the Cle Elum Kiwanis.” The decision to select Melissa Becker was unanimous.
Melissa will be sworn in at the March 18 Board meeting and will serve on the KCPHD #2 Board of Commissioners until the November 2019 general election, at which time the position will be publicly elected. She will be eligible to run for the position if she chooses. The elected candidate will then complete the remaining four-year term ending in 2023.
