County Commission confirms appointment by state’s surgeon general
Lynette Herbert has been named both the Sarasota County Health Officer and the director of the county’s Health and Human Services Department, “bringing more than 20 years of professional experience spanning public health, human services, local government and the nonprofit sector to the role,” a county news release noted.
During the Aug. 25 County Commission meeting, County Administrator Jonathan Lewis explained that, in accord with Florida Statute 154.04, the state’s surgeon general appoints the directors of health departments, after concurrence of the affected county commission.
Herbert had been chosen to be the new Sarasota County Health Officer, Lewis continued. “We are looking for your concurrence … to confirm Lynette’s appointment,” he added.
Commissioner Tom Knight made the motion to do so, and Commissioner Teresa Mast seconded it, and the motion passed unanimously.
The county news release said Herbert’s appointment took effect on Aug. 26.
Following the vote, Lewis told the commissioners, “I’d like for us to do [something] a little unusual.” He wanted them to gather in front of the dais in the new County Administration Center on Apex Road in Sarasota, so a county staff member could take a photo of them with Herbert.
Mark Lander, deputy secretary of the Florida Department of Health, was present, so Lewis asked that the commissioners include Lander in the photo.
“We’ve got to send Lynette to Orlando,” Lewis explained of his desire to have that photo taken before he completed his report to the commissioners that day. “She’s got some work to do.”
The group did assemble for that photo.
Later, county staff distributed the news release about Herbert’s appointment.
As director of the Health and Human Services Department, the release said, Herbert will oversee divisions such as Human Services, Mosquito Management Services and Veterans Services.
She will succeed Chuck Henry, the Health and Human Services director and the county’s Health Officer, who is set to retire on Sept. 30, the release added.
A news release from the Florida Department of Health in Sarasota County (DOH-Sarasota) noted that Henry has “served the department since 2002,” adding that in 2011, he became the county Health Official and director of Sarasota County’s Health and Human Services department.
“Prior to joining the Department,” the DOH-Sarasota release pointed out, Henry served for 24 years in the U. S. Navy, “as both a hospital corpsman, and as a commissioned officer in the Medical Service Corps.”
In the county news release, County Administrator Lewis pointed to Herbert’s experience in public health and human services, “along with her understanding of our community and partnerships,” as bringing “valuable perspective to the role.”
Lewis added, “Her leadership experience, knowledge of our organization and commitment to public service make her well suited to lead Health and Human Services and continue strengthening the important work the department does every day.”
Most recently, Herbert had served as assistant director of the county’s Health and Human Services Department and DOH-Sarasota, “a position she had held since February 2022,” the release continued. She previously served for six years as the public health services manager.
“Before joining the Florida Department of Health,” the release noted, “Herbert spent nearly five years with Sarasota County Government” as the contracted human services supervisor, as well as more than six years as chief financial officer for a nonprofit organization. She earned a Master of Science in applied aging sciences from the University of South Florida,” the county release added.
“It is an honor to continue serving Sarasota County in this role and to work alongside the dedicated, responsive professionals who support the health and well-being of our community every day,” Herbert said in the release. “I look forward to building on our strong partnerships and working together to create the healthiest community and to ensure residents can access needed public health services and resources.”
The DOH-Sarasota release also noted that Lander, the deputy secretary for county health systems with the Florida Department of Health, had pointed to “Herbert’s more than two decades of experience across public health, human services, local government, and the nonprofit sector uniquely [positioning] her to make a meaningful impact in Sarasota County.”
As DOH-Sarasota Health Officer and administrator, the DOH-Sarasota release continued, “Herbert will lead more than 200 full-time employees serving roughly 400,000 residents across six county locations. The department’s public health responsibilities include environmental health, vital records, epidemiology, communicable disease control and health protection, emergency preparedness, maternal care, nutrition services, and health education,” it said.
Becky Keyes, director of county health systems for the Florida Department of Health, talked in the DOH-Sarasota release about how “Herbert’s deep commitment to public health, paired with her personal connection to the community, brings an impactful perspective to the role.”