SKAGIT COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Another local government has joined Whatcom County in naming a new health director.

The Skagit County Board of Commissioners announced on Monday, Oct. 27 that it’s appointed Monica Negrila as the new director of public health.

Negrila previously served as the director of strategic initiatives within the Commissioner’s Office.

She also helped oversee the development of North Star, a public-private partnership in Skagit County that launched in 2022 to address behavioral health and homelessness challenges in the community. Before that, she spent six years working in health and human services for the City of Issaquah.

“Skagit County and North Star has benefitted because of Monica’s leadership on our highest priority issues in the community, including addressing the behavioral health and homelessness crisis,” said Lisa Janicki, Chair of the Board of County Commissioners.

It comes roughly two months after Whatcom County named Champ Thomaskutty as its next director of Health and Community Services.

Thomaskutty is expected to take over at the end of the month.