Bob Knowles has been appointed as the newest member of the South Snohomish County Commission for Health, a nonprofit agency that is expected to fund more than $3 million in health and wellness programs annually.
Knowles, 46, was chosen from a group of 10 initial applicants.
Knowles is eligible to run in the November general election for a two-year term.
“We made a temporary decision for the public,” board president Fred Langer said. “They can endorse or change it in the next electoral cycle.”
Knowles was appointed to the post formerly held by Kimberly Coles, 31, who resigned in January.
Knowles, who lives in Brier, is manager of disease management at Premera Blue Cross. He previously worked in preventative care and community health programs at Stevens Hospital, now known as Swedish/Edmonds.
The five-member health commission board was formerly the Stevens Hospital board. When Seattle-based Swedish Health Services took over administration of the hospital last year, the duties of the board changed.
It now oversees the South Snohomish County Commission for Health, a foundationlike organization that is expected to have about $3.5 million or more a year to spend on health promotion programs.
The money Swedish pays to lease the hospital — $7.2 million a year — goes to the public hospital district. This is one of the main sources of revenue for the new health commission.
This and other income, including property taxes, will bring its annual revenue this year to about $9 million.
Langer said he hopes that the board will be able to choose the initial programs to fund in the fall.
Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@heraldnet.com.
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