Finalist for Health Commissioner takes another job

This past Tuesday, recently retired Health Commissioner Donna Laake sent the following email to Mayor Williams and members of the Norwood Health Commission. Last Friday, Gary Arthur, President Prop Tem of the Norwood Health Commission, informed Mayor Williams that the Health Commission had suspended its search for Donna Laake’s replacement (see 8/29/08 blog below.)

Date: Tue, 2 Sep 2008 6:43 pm

Unfortunately, I received news today that the second of the three individuals who were chosen for 2nd interviews took another job. Matt Coleman, in my opinion the best candidate, waited as long as he could for the resolution regarding the Norwood Health Department before accepting a position in Tennessee. His wife had been laid off at Hamilton County Public Health in May due to the dissolving of the Tobacco Foundation and the loss of grant funds. Ironically, HCPH recently received a new grant from the CDC and was in the process of contacting his wife to return to work when Matt accepted the position in Tennessee. It is a real loss since he was young and enthusiastic and willing to do whatever it took to become a successful health commissioner for our city.

-Donna Laake