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Committee recommends confirmation of Dr. Sandra Valenciano as Public Health Seattle & King County director
Summary
The Human Services committee voted 5–0 to recommend confirmation of Dr. Sandra Valenciano as director of Public Health Seattle & King County; the recommendation will be forwarded to the full council on June 9. Council members praised her public-health experience and asked about community visibility, unpermitted street vending enforcement and mass-casualty preparedness.
The Human Services, Labor and Economic Development Committee voted 5–0 on May 29 to recommend confirmation of Dr. Sandra Valenciano as director of Public Health Seattle & King County, sending the committee's recommendation to the full Seattle City Council on June 9.
Mayor's office deputy Mark Ellerbroek introduced Dr. Valenciano and highlighted her previous role leading the DeKalb County Health Department, a CDC epidemic intelligence fellowship, and management of a large public-health budget. "She is clearly highly qualified," Ellerbroek said, noting her operational and emergency-response experience.
Dr. Valenciano, who has served as the county's acting health officer since August, told the committee she aims to center equity in public-health policy, strengthen workforce and data systems, and make public health more visible and trusted in communities. "Public health works best when it is science driven, community centered, and grounded in trust," she said.
Council members pressed the nominee on specific operational issues. Council president Hollingsworth asked how she would increase the department's visibility; Dr. Valenciano described internal visits, clinic site tours and meetings with hospital and state leaders and said she would present department data to the full council.
On unpermitted street-food vending, Council member Saka asked how the department will measure whether an "education first" strategy improves compliance. Dr. Valenciano said the department will employ a tiered approach: initial education and warnings, then confiscation with continued warnings if noncompliance persists, and, as a last resort, misdemeanor authority against owner-operators where state law allows. She said the environmental health team upgraded their permitting system in December 2025 and is tracking incidents and visits.
Council member Juarez asked whether the department regards gun violence as a mass-casualty risk. Dr. Valenciano said definitions vary by circumstance and can range from three to 10 decedents for a "mass casualty" depending on the event; she described a small regional gun-violence prevention office within public health focused on South Seattle and South King County and said gun violence is a public-health issue that requires cross-sector collaboration.
Chair Alexis Mercedes Rink moved the committee recommendation to confirm (appointment 3497); the motion was seconded and passed unanimously, 5 in favor, 0 opposed, 0 abstentions. The committee's recommendation will be transmitted to the full council on June 9 for final consideration.
If confirmed by the council and King County Council, the director will hold a joint city-county role reporting to both the Seattle mayor and the King County executive.
