Thorburn evaluation a mixed bag

The head of the Spokane Regional Health District earned a solid B from agency employees, managers and community members, just-released results of a recent evaluation showed.

But Dr. Kim Thorburn’s grade from the local Board of Health was no better than a D, or barely passing.

Thorburn, a prominent public official who chairs the Washington State Board of Health, wonders whether her Spokane job may be in jeopardy. She has been operating under a lingering vote of no confidence from her own agency.

Board members gave Thorburn an average score of 65 percent in nine areas ranging from general administration to personal characteristics.

In almost all categories, they criticized the health officer sharply, citing deficiencies that ranged from arrogance and political bias to bad wardrobe choices.

“Attitude can be very poor. Reaction to constructive criticism indicates low self-esteem. Dresses in California casual attire that does not illustrate professionalism the job demands,” read one comment in the evaluation conducted last fall and released last week through a public records request by The Spokesman-Review.

Thorburn earned scores of nearly 81 percent from community members and nearly 82 percent from employees and managers at the health district.

“Just because she’s not a polished political schmoozer doesn’t mean she’s not a good health officer,” another anonymous comment read.

Whether the mixed review will endanger the $125,000-a-year job that Thorburn, 56, has held since 1997 is unclear.

“I haven’t got a clue at this point,” said board member Margaret Jones, an appointed citizen.

Thorburn’s contract, signed in March 1997, entitles the health officer to a year’s pay if she is terminated for reason other than cause. The contract specifies that Thorburn cannot be fired for taking positions in the interest of public health, “whether or not such positions are politically popular or charged,” unless the board has directed her to abandon or moderate them.

Health board members met privately last week to consider results of the evaluation – Thorburn’s first in two years despite a contract that calls for annual reviews. The evaluation is also the first since board members issued a 2004 vote of no confidence for Thorburn.

“I wasn’t ever particularly given a reason or anything about what I’m supposed to do,” Thorburn said Monday.

She had previously asked the board to disregard the new evaluation because not all board members participated and some of those who did have since left the panel. Of the dozen members on the board, eight filled out the survey last November, the records showed.

“You must remember that some of the previous board members were at loggerheads with Kim,” noted Jones, who has served on the health board for eight years.

Scores ranged from a low of 53 percent in the personal characteristics category to a high of 73 percent in the categories of employee and intergovernmental relations. Board members said Thorburn was good at assessing community needs and directing finances, but weak in other areas, including relations with the panel.

“Dictatorial, demanding, unreasonable,” read one comment.

“Reputation for knowledge is good but attitude and arrogance is poor,” read another. “Is known to be abrasive and unreceptive to opinions that vary from her own.”

Staff and community comments included a range of views, although many spoke positively about Thorburn’s background, training and commitment. Thorburn holds a medical degree and a master’s degree in public health. Last year, Gov. Chris Gregoire appointed her to head the state Board of Health.

“Dr. Thorburn is a professional who clearly understands public health issues,” read one evaluation comment. “She may need more political training in how to communicate issues of politics vs. policy.”

One manager suggested that Thorburn could use some wardrobe assistance.

“For more visible appointments in the public eye, I feel Dr. K could benefit from a ‘personal shopper’ service at one of Spokane’s higher end clothing stores,” the comment read.

Thorburn said she was surprised to receive the results of the evaluation when board members offered them in February.

“I do not perceive myself as demanding and dictatorial,” said Thorburn, who was offered an opportunity to respond. “I told them, ‘Obviously, I need to improve communication with you.’ “

Thorburn could achieve that goal by addressing issues with board members before she speaks about them publicly, said member Mary Verner, a Spokane City councilwoman.

“Frankly, one thing would be to talk to us before she talks to the press,” said Verner, who added that board members wouldn’t censor Thorburn’s remarks.

This is not the first time Thorburn has been at odds with her supervisors – here or elsewhere. She clashed with administrators in Hawaii, where she worked in the state’s prison system and criticized what she believed was abusive treatment of inmates.

Within months of her hiring in Spokane in June 1997, Thorburn was embroiled in a battle over public vaccination against hepatitis A and other contentious issues.

In fact, her blunt manner and outspoken defense of public health issues were among the reasons she was hired here, said former health board chair John Roskelley, who signed Thorburn’s contract.

“She sticks to her guns,” said Roskelley, a former county commissioner who spoke on Thorburn’s behalf during a citizen input session at last week’s meeting. He likened her to the Dixie Chicks, who refused to retract critical comments about President Bush, despite widespread public pressure. The group’s new song “Not Ready to Make Nice” sums up Thorburn’s attitude, Roskelley said.

Thorburn referred questions about her future to board members. But health board chairman Todd Mielke didn’t return calls about Thorburn’s evaluation Tuesday. Verner said it wasn’t clear whether, or when, another special session would be called to conclude the evaluation. The Health Board isn’t set to meet again in public until September.

Roskelley, who has watched Thorburn negotiate with board members for nearly a decade, said this go-round could be serious.

“I’m sure she’s in danger of losing her job,” he said.