SENATE RESOLUTION
8652
By Senators Short, Riccelli, Robinson, and Wagoner
WHEREAS, Mary Selecky dedicated her life to improving the health and well-being of the people of Washington State, exhibiting an unwavering commitment to public health and service to others; and
WHEREAS, Mary Selecky was born and raised in Pennsylvania, where the value of "being of service to someone else" was deeply ingrained in her upbringing, a principle that would guide her throughout her life and career; and
WHEREAS, Mary graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science, before moving to the Northwest in the early 1970s, where she permanently settled in Colville, Washington; and
WHEREAS, Mary began her service in public health in 1979, when she was appointed Administrator for the Northeast Tri-County Health District in Colville, a role she held for 20 years, working tirelessly to understand all aspects of local health care in Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens Counties; and
WHEREAS, In 1998, Governor Gary Locke appointed Mary as the Secretary of Health for the State of Washington, a position originally intended to be temporary. Her leadership was so exceptional that Governor Locke later asked her to remain in the role permanently. She continued to serve as Secretary of Health under Governors Locke, Gregoire, and Inslee, retiring in 2013 after a distinguished 15-year tenure; and
WHEREAS, During her career, Mary was a trailblazer in developing public health policies that addressed the unique challenges faced by both urban and rural communities. As Secretary of Health, she prioritized tobacco prevention and control, patient safety, and emergency preparedness, making significant strides in these areas; and
WHEREAS, Under her leadership, Washington State achieved a 30% reduction in adult smoking rates and a halving of youth smoking rates. She also focused on improving vaccination rates for children and establishing better health partnerships with Canada, emphasizing that "bugs know no borders"; and
WHEREAS, Mary's leadership was instrumental in making Washington one of the first two state health agencies to receive national accreditation, a testament to the excellence of the public health system she helped shape; and
WHEREAS, Mary consistently advocated for rural communities, delivering testimony in Olympia on the challenges faced by public health in rural and geographically expansive areas, and working to ensure that public health, rural hospitals, and healthcare providers received the attention and support they needed; and