Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health unanimously elected Tacoma City Council Member and Deputy Mayor Victoria Woodards at its Dec. 17 meeting. Pierce County Councilmember Rick Talbert was elected vice chair. Each will serve a one-year term.

The Board of Health governs Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, meeting monthly to consider policies to strengthen the health of communities in Pierce County.

Woodards replaces Pierce County Councilmember Stan Flemming, DO, who was chair for two years. Previously vice-chair, Woodards has served on the Board of Health since 2012. In addition to her work with the Health Department and City of Tacoma, she also fills roles in many community causes, including as president and chief executive officer of the Tacoma Urban League. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Woodards grew up in Tacoma and graduated from Lincoln High School.

Talbert has served on the Board of Health since 2002. He served two terms on the Tacoma City Council before being elected to the Pierce County Council in 2010. His long history of community service includes co-founding and serving as board chair of the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center. Talbert is a lifelong Pierce County resident and, like Woodards, graduated from Lincoln High School.