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Lisa Peacock, the top health officer for four Northwestern Michigan counties, is fed up with "the stress of the current environment" and "the reckless political agendas of some Board of Health members," her resignation letter says.
Her departure notification Tuesday says in paragraph one: "This decision is completely due to the hostile work environment created by some of the members of the [Health Department of Northwest Michigan] Board of Health." That board is made up of two county commissioners from each participating area -- Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego.
Lisa Peacock: "I not longer have the strength to endure ... the public attacks." (Photo: Health Department of Northwest Mighigan)
The counties are split between conservative and progressive political views. "In September, shortly after Peacock had instituted school mask mandates, ... a board of health meeting was so tumultuous that two commissioners resigned and Peacock took a medical leave," Bridge Michigan posts.
Peacock's three-page letter, which gives 60 days' notice that she's out, says "the public attacks and campaign of humiliation at public meetings [over masks] is something I no longer have the strength to endure." The department dropped the six-month-old school safety order last week.
WPBN, a Traverse City TV station, posts context and background:
Peacock has been the subject of criticism after issuing a mask mandate order for schools in Emmett, Otsego, Charlevoix and Antrim Counties back in late August. This prompted the Board of Health to vote on whether or not to terminate Peacock's contract, which ultimately failed 5-3.
In October, a group of Gaylord parents filed a lawsuit against the health department over the mask mandate.
Peacock has more than 28 years of experience in healthcare, the last 12 of those at the Health Department of Northwest Michigan and has served as a health officer since July 2015.
"I am very saddened to offer my resignation," Peacock said. "I love my job, the employees I work with, and our community partners who support our mission."
Her departure notice adds: "It is literally impossible for me to continue to support our team ... in the face of ongoing efforts by the Board of Health to damage this strong health department and me as its leader.
"I am most disappointed in the recent retaliation I have endured for the issuance of a public health order aimed at protecting children, school staff and the general public. I am not surprised at the actions of some of the newer board members, as their agenda has been clear since their appointment in early 2021. However, I am extremely disheartened by the board members who have questioned my integrity and intentions and have even expressed their belief that I deserve the abuse I have received."
Her late April departure also affects Benzie and Leelanau counties, which contract with Northwest Michigan to share the regional health officer.
The director of a district health department for four Upper Peninsula counties shares Peacock's frustration and regrets seeing her "driven out by pandemic politics," he tells Bridge. Nick Derusha of Newberry, who's also is president of the Michigan Association of Local Public Health, says she's far from the only health officer who has endured two years of criticism and second-guessing over pandemic orders.
“If somebody says they don’t feel like that, they’re probably lying,” he said.
