David Bayne, the public health director of Thurston County, resigned on Friday, only 17 months after he was appointed to lead the Public Health and Social Services department. Bayne was hired following a nationwide search and began his role in December 2022. He submitted his resignation letter to County Manager Leonard Hernandez, who expressed disappointment at Bayne’s departure but also thanked him for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic recovery phase.
As Bayne leaves the department, Jennifer Freiheit, the assistant director of PHSS, will step in as interim director. The leadership team is committed to supporting Freiheit and all PHSS employees during this transition period. Bayne and Freiheit began their roles around the same time and have worked together closely ever since.
This is the second time in three years that a PHSS director has resigned. Schelli Slaughter stepped down in December 2021 for personal reasons, leading the department through its early years of the pandemic. It took the county significant time to find a replacement for Slaughter, and it’s unclear if a similar process will follow Bayne’s resignation.
Bayne has an impressive background with over four years at Washington State Department of Health and nearly seven years at Georgia Department of Public Health. As Thurston County assesses its next steps for the department, it’s crucial to have strong leadership in place to address public health challenges effectively.
In conclusion, Thurston County’s Public Health and Social Services department is currently going through a transition period after its public health director resigned on Friday. The leadership team is working diligently to ensure that Jennifer Freiheit takes over smoothly as interim director while continuing to support all PHSS employees during this challenging period.
