Spokane Regional Health District hires Danny Scalise; commissioner lists local updates and legislative wins

The Spokane Regional Health District Board voted unanimously to hire Danny Scalise as its new administrative officer, Spokane County Commissioner Amber Waldref said. Waldref said Scalise is currently the public health director for Burke County, North Carolina, and is slated to start at the Spokane district in mid-April.

"We made this selection after reviewing many applicants and completing a comprehensive interview process," Waldref said, describing the board’s decision. The announcement did not include Scalise’s salary or a detailed transition plan.

In the same update, Waldref summarized benefits to Spokane County from the just-concluded Washington State legislative session, including several affordable housing bills, continued funding for Maddy's Place, and an extension for the county's waste-to-energy plant. She also listed recent community engagements: meetings with the Nevada Heights and Southgate Neighborhood Councils, appearances before the East Spokane and Northeast Spokane Kiwanis clubs, attendance at a MultiCare Internal Medicine Residency ribbon cutting, and lighter community notes — recognizing a county victim support dog and noting a newborn Highland cow at the county fairgrounds.

Waldref directed listeners to her newsletter and social media for links and additional details. The county update did not provide dates for the legislative provisions’ implementation or specific dollar amounts beyond items reported elsewhere in the announcement.