Dr. Timothy Rerick interviewed for reappointment to Idaho State Board of Health and Welfare

The Idaho Senate Health and Welfare Committee interviewed Dr. Timothy Rerick of Rexburg, who is being considered for a gubernatorial reappointment to the State Board of Health and Welfare. Rerick described his background in marriage and family studies, his role advising policy makers and international delegations, and his recent service as board chair; the committee did not vote on the reappointment during the hearing and scheduled a vote for the next meeting.

Rerick told the committee he serves as a professor and director of the marriage and family studies program at Brigham Young University–Idaho and said his policy work has included advising at the United Nations and consulting on family-strengthening approaches to achieve sustainable development goals. He described serving on the Board of Health and Welfare since 2018 and said he has held the chair role for the last two years. "I was there through so many dicey and sensitive issues, whether it was had to do with transgender topics or masks and vaccines during COVID," Rerick said.

On committee questioning about the board's role, Rerick said the board occupies an "ambiguous middle" between advisory and decision-making functions and that clarity about authority is important. Asked what he learned during the COVID-19 period, Rerick warned against "tribalism and polarization," saying that people often "cherry pick" information rather than seeking a nuanced view. Several senators thanked Rerick for his service and asked about his international work; Rerick described speaking at the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women on father-daughter relationships and participating in mission visits to national delegations.

The committee did not take a formal vote on Rerick's reappointment during the hearing and the chair said a vote would be scheduled at the committee's next meeting. Rerick thanked members for the opportunity to serve and for the committee's time.