City of Mountlake Terrace Councilmember Kyoko Matsumoto Wright recently was sworn in to serve on the Snohomish County Board of Health. Wright took the oath of office at the Board’s monthly meeting on Oct. 9.

“I look forward to learning more about public health and concerns the public may have,” Wright said. “I am interested in helping people improve their health. I want to be an informed advocate for our public health needs.”

Wright has served on the Mountlake Terrace City Council since 2008. She replaces Health Board member Michelle Robles, who resigned from the council earlier this year.

The Snohomish County Board of Health sets countywide public health policy, enacts and enforces local public health regulations, and carries out other duties of local boards of health specified in state law. These duties include enforcing state public health statutes, preventing and controlling the spread of infectious disease, abating nuisances and establishing fee schedules for licenses, permits and other services.

The Board of Health is composed of the five Snohomish County Council members and 10 representatives from the incorporated cities within Snohomish County. Per the Health District Charter, one representative to the Board of Health is appointed by the most populous city within each County Council District and another representative is appointed by the other cities within that District.

Wright joins Dave Somers, County Council and 2012 Board Chair; Mayor Mark Lamb, City of Bothell and 2012 Board Vice Chair; Shannon Affholter, City of Everett; Patsy Cudaback, City of Monroe; Adrienne Fraley-Monillas, City of Edmonds; Dave Gossett, County Council; Linda Grafer, City of Mukilteo; Mayor Karen Guzak, City of Snohomish; John Koster, County Council; Kerri Lonergan-Dreke, City of Lynnwood; Brian Sullivan, County Council; Mayor Dianne White, City of Stanwood; Donna Wright, City of Marysville; and Stephanie Wright, County Council.