Gov. Jay Inslee introduces Attorney General Bob Ferguson at a Sept. 9, 2023 campaign event where Ferguson formally launched his 2024 campaign to succeed Inslee as governor. (Jerry Cornfield/Washington State Standard)
Washington Secretary of Health Umair Shah said Tuesday he will step down next month, joining other state agency leaders planning to exit before Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson takes office.
“As you can imagine, making this decision was not easy and came after much soul-searching and numerous discussions with my family,” Shah said in an email to employees of the Department of Health . “While there is important work left to be done, this decision allows me to spend time with family while exploring what is next on my horizon.”
Shah is one of six members of Gov. Jay Inslee’s executive cabinet intending to leave on or around Jan. 15 when Ferguson, who is now attorney general, will begin his term as Washington’s 23rd governor.
Both Inslee and Ferguson are Democrats. But even when partisan control of the governor’s office does not change hands, shakeups in the executive ranks aren’t unusual.