Whatcom County’s Special Initiatives Manager Kayla Schott-Bresler is one of the county’s two new deputy executives.
County Council approved executive Satpal Sidhu’s appointment of Schott-Bresler at the Tuesday, April 9 council meeting as current deputy executive Tyler Schroeder leaves for a role at the Port of Bellingham. The county is actively hiring for a second deputy executive, as a restructure in the executive’s office splits Schroeder’s role into two.
Schroeder said at the April 9 County Council meeting that he’s been ‘nothing but impressed” at Schott-Bresler’s ability to “collaboratively work with department leaders, with the organization as a whole, with community members, partners and advisory boards.”
Schott-Bresler has 12 years of experience in government administration, policy and external affairs, Schroeder said. Before her role at Whatcom County, she was deputy county administrator in Skagit County, and assistant director for public health in Skagit County.
“I see it as my job in this role to not only help the executive deliver on our community commitments but to also help the council deliver on the commitments you’ve made to your neighbors, to voters and your districts,” Schott-Bresler said at the meeting.
“I think there’s also a lot of consensus in this community about helping the most vulnerable, helping those that are threatened by major public health challenges,” she added. “I really want to help you help the executive and help the community in meeting these ambitious goals.”
Schroeder said on Wednesday, April 10 the decision to add a second deputy executive came from the increase in the county’s budget and services over the last decade to ensure there’s enough internal review of the county’s operations and to be responsive to “community needs and external pressures.”
Council approved a budget amendment on March 19 to appropriate $191,190 to the executive to fund a second deputy executive.
