Spokane Board of Health Member Being Threatened for Questioning Vaccines

Spokane Councilman Mike Fagan. Photo courtesy KREM.

Health Impact News Editor Comments

Members of the Spokane City Council are threatening to remove Councilman Mike Fagan from the city Board of Health, because he revealed on his Facebook Page that he does not personally receive vaccines, and does not believe the “science is settled” in regards to vaccines. In an interview with KREM TV, he made it clear that these are his personal views: “I’m not going to impose my opinion or my will on anyone else.”

Some other members of the City Council apparently believe that Mr. Fagan is not entitled to have a view on vaccines different than their own and still be a member of the board of health. They are threatening to remove him from the board, and calling for his resignation. Mr. Fagan has stated he will not resign.

Who is Mike Fagan?

According to online sources, Mike Fagan is a disabled American veteran, who served as a criminal investigator and contracting officer in the Army:

Councilman Mike Fagan is married to Donna, they have three children, grandson Ryan and granddaughter McKinley. Fagan is a disabled American veteran, who served as a criminal investigator and contracting officer in the Army. He worked as a purchasing officer of a communications company in California then worked at MOR Manufacturing in Post Falls, including as materials manager.

Mike is and has been very active in the community. He is former President of a number of groups including: Bemiss Neighborhood Council, the Regional Boundary Committee for OSPI & ESD 101, Spokane Sister Cities Association, Hillyard Community Block Grant Steering Committee, and Eastern Washington Term Limits Coalition. He is and has been a Stakeholder with Spokane Comprehensive Plan at the neighborhood level, Stakeholder of Spokane Centers and Corridors at the neighborhood level, plus numerous other civic activities. Additionally, he Co-hosts a radio talk show, “The Right Spokane Perspective,” about local politics, issues and items of community interest.

His Board, Committee and Commission Appoints include: Finance, PCED (Planning, Community/Economic Development), Public Safety, Public Works, Aging and Long Term Care of eastern Washington, City Planning Commission, Police Pension Board, Spokane County Growth Management Act Steering Committee, Spokane Police Advisory Committee and Spokane Regional Solid Waste Liaison Board. (Source.)

Who are the City Councilmen Threatening Him Because of his Views on Vaccines?

Jon Snyder

Fellow Spokane City Council member Jon Snyder who also serves on the board has called for his resignation. “He bears a big responsibility being on the health board, to promote public health, to preserve life in Spokane County,” Snyder told KREM.

According to online sources, Mr. Snyder was the author, editor-in-chief and contributor for the Star Wars fan magazine Star Wars Insider as well as the Star Wars Kids magazine published by Scholastic.

Snyder is a graduate of Lewis and Clark High School in Spokane. He graduated from The Evergreen State College with an emphasis in Media Studies. While at Evergreen State College in 1990 he directed the filming of a live concert of Nirvana. Jon was an author, editor-in-chief and contributor for the Star Wars fan magazine Star Wars Insider as well as the Star Wars Kids magazine published by Scholastic. In addition, Snyder was also managing editor of the “Star Trek Communicator”, released by the Official Star Trek Fan Club. (Source.)

Councilman Jon Snyder is serving his second term as Councilman for District 2. Throughout his time on Council, Jon has been an advocate for small businesses, greater neighborhood involvement in the City planning process, good long range planning that helps stimulate economic growth and save citizens money, and increased traffic safety including better facilities for biking, walking and public transit. (Source.)

Ben Stuckart

Ben Stuckart is the Spokane City Council President and told KREM:

“I don’t think he would have been appointed to the board of health by this city council had we known that he had anti-vaccination and anti-science views on this issue”

According to online sources, Mr. Stuckart is in his first term serving as the Spokane City Council President, and has a dog named Bella.

Ben Stuckart is in his first term serving as the Spokane City Council President. Ben is a Spokane native and graduate of both Lewis and Clark High School and Gonzaga University. He and his wife Ann have a dog named Bella and reside on the South Hill. Prior to his election Ben had the opportunity to start Communities In Schools of Spokane County. Under his leadership the organization grew to a now half million dollar agency annually. Communities In Schools is a collaborative organization and provides services for thousands of Spokane’s students each year. He’s also enjoyed unique opportunities in customer service and management with the Oakland Raiders and TicketsWest. (Source.)

If you live in Spokane, do you feel these City Councilmen have more experience and knowledge of the “science” behind vaccines than Mr. Fagan? Should their views be forced upon others and be made public policy for everyone in Spokane?

Mr. Stuckart can be contacted from here. Mr. Snyder can be contacted here.

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