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SR 8652

Honoring and commending Mary Selecky for her lifetime of service, leadership, and commitment to the health and well-being of our communities.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Marcus Riccelli and 3 co-sponsors

Honors Mary Selecky for a lifetime of public health leadership that improved tobacco control, vaccination, rural health, and emergency response in Washington.

Adopted.
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Bill Summary · SR 8652

Senate Resolution SR 8652 — Summary

Overview

  • Type: Senate Resolution (ceremonial recognition)
  • Title: Honoring and commending Mary Selecky for her lifetime of service, leadership, and commitment to the health and well-being of our communities
  • Status: Adopted
  • Introduced: April 25, 2025
  • Adoption date: April 25, 2025
  • Primary authors: Senators Short, Riccelli, Robinson, and Wagoner

Purpose

To honor Mary Selecky for a lifetime of public health service and leadership in Washington State, recognizing her contributions to improving population health, emergency preparedness, and the health system for urban and rural communities.

Key Provisions and Content

  • The resolution recounts Mary Selecky’s life and career, emphasizing:
    • Early life in Pennsylvania and upbringing centered on service.
    • Education: BA in History and Political Science from the University of Pennsylvania.
    • Public health career beginning in 1979 as Administrator for the Northeast Tri-County Health District in Colville (serving Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens Counties for 20 years).
    • Appointment as Washington Secretary of Health in 1998 by Governor Gary Locke; continued in that role under Governors Locke, Gregoire, and Inslee, retiring in 2013 after 15 years as Secretary.
  • Highlights of leadership and impact:
    • Prioritized tobacco prevention and control, patient safety, and emergency preparedness.
    • Achieved a 30% reduction in adult smoking and a halving of youth smoking rates.
    • Improved vaccination rates for children and fostered cross-border health partnerships with Canada.
    • Washington was among the first two states to achieve national accreditation for its public health system.
    • Strong advocacy for rural communities and testimony on rural public health challenges.
    • Leadership during major public health events (e.g., mad cow disease, H1N1, 2011 tsunami aftermath) and reforms to sexual misconduct investigations and expedited license suspensions when needed.
    • First non-physician health officer to serve as President of the Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials; later served as President of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
  • Post-retirement service on boards and continued public health engagement.
  • Recognitions: AMA Nathan Davis Award for Outstanding Government Service (2010); Indiana University Bicentennial Medal (2019).

Affected Parties

  • Primary: Mary Selecky
  • Broader: Washington State public health community, rural and urban health stakeholders, public health professionals, and the general public who benefit from public health leadership and reforms.

Procedural History and Timeline

  • Introduced: April 25, 2025
  • Adopted: April 25, 2025
  • Nature: Ceremonial, non-binding resolution; does not authorize new programs or appropriations

Impact and Context

  • The resolution serves as formal recognition of a distinguished public health career and its impact on Washington’s health system.
  • It reflects bipartisan appreciation for achievements in tobacco control, vaccination, accreditation, and rural health support.
  • No fiscal impact or policy changes are attached; the measure is symbolic in nature.

Textual Note

  • The core commitment is stated as: “NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honor and commend Mary Selecky for her lifetime of service, leadership, and commitment to the health and well-being of our communities.”

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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