Bill to change composition of public health boards receives strong support in public hearing By Laurel Demkovich, The Spokesman-Review Published: January 26, 2021, 9:18am Share: Jan. 26–OLYMPIA — Local public health boards may become a little less political if a bill sponsored by Spokane Rep. Marcus Riccelli passes the state Legislature. A bill that would require local public health boards to include a majority of nonelected members received its first public hearing on Monday, with many supporters of the bill citing the firing of former Spokane County Health Officer Dr. Bob Lutz as the reason for needing a change. “When politics affects public health, we have problems,” Riccelli told the House Health Care and Wellness Committee.