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Nov. 30, 2004
Executive Sims’ communications director to move to Executive-led Health Reform Initiative
King County Executive Ron Sims announced today that Elaine Kraft, his long-time communications director has accepted a new position in his administration as the communications director for his new Health Reform Initiative.
“This announcement is bittersweet for me,” said Executive Sims. “Elaine is not just an outstanding professional, she is like family. Elaine has been my communications director almost from the beginning of my tenure as Executive. For seven amazing years Elaine has served the citizens of King County 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. She helped guide us all through saving our salmon, Y2K, the WTO riots, blowing up the Kingdome, earthquakes, floods and King County’s budget crisis. And she did it all with exceptional skill, grace, good humor, and a calming presence.”
“But I am also excited and gratified that Elaine will help tackle this new challenge. Around the nation and here at home, health care costs are crippling business, government, families and the economy, leaving people without the vital care they need," said Sims, who appointed a task force earlier this year to identify county health care options. "Our goal is to reduce the burden of illness on all of us, and a large part of that is through communication and education. When it became clear that we needed a communications director for the effort, Elaine Kraft stepped forward,” said Executive Sims. “Elaine has been part of the Health Reform Initiative since its inception, and I can’t think of anyone better to take it to the next level.”
Sims' Health Advisory Task Force called for a multi-pronged approach to addressing health care and its costs, both internal to King County and for the region through a newly created Puget Sound Regional Health Partnership, of which charter members include Starbucks, Washington Mutual, Group Health, King County and the state of Washington, and others are in discussion. Kraft will help implement the program through internal and external communications for all aspects of the Health Reform Initiative, Sims said.
"The health care crisis is a national problem that we are doing our best to address here in the Puget Sound region," said Sims. "As a result of my Health Advisory Task Force, King County’s initiative will work on several fronts to maintain the health of our employees and their families, while ensuring the health care system delivers the right care at the right time.”
"Getting the word out to our employees, the region and the public are critical first steps, and Elaine will bring the needed skills to help our education efforts aimed at getting people healthy and keeping them that way."
“I have mixed emotions about giving up this exciting but all consuming job,” said Kraft. “Working for such a visionary leader as Ron Sims has been the highlight of my career. For the past seven years I have worked on everything from buses to building permits, from parks to public health, from saving salmon to sewage treatment and from vaccines to voting. But now I am ready to hang up my pager and trade in my current duties for more normal hours and the ability to focus my efforts on one critical issue, improving health care in King County.”
"I am honored that Executive Sims has asked me to help with the Health Reform Initiative and to make a real difference in people's lives," said Kraft. "If we can help people help themselves before they become ill, or manage their illness better, we have contributed to their quality of life. And if the partners' work results in a better system throughout the Puget Sound area of health care delivery, then families, businesses and the economy will no longer have to stagger under the impact of illness."
The position of communications director for the Health Reform Initiative was authorized by the King County Council when it unanimously adopted the 2005 King County Budget on Nov. 22. Kraft will transition out of her duties as Executive Sims’ communications director in mid-December and assume her new duties with the Health Reform Initiative in January 2005.
Sims will immediately begin the process to hire a new communications director. The position will be posted in early December and Sims hopes to have the position filled in January of 2005. Carolyn Duncan, Public Affairs Manager for the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks will serve as the interim communications director until the hiring process is completed.
Kraft has been at King County for eight years. She holds a BA from the University of Washington in journalism and political science and an MBA/MPA from the University of Puget Sound. Prior to joining King County she held communications and community relations positions at Weyerhaeuser Company, the Coors Brewing Company and the Washington State Legislature.
Updated: Nov. 30, 2004
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