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Arcata’s Mayor is Stepping down, Taking on New Role as County Public Health Director
Arcata Mayor Sofia Pereira, who has also served as the county’s Emergency Operations Center operation chief during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced she will be stepping down from the Arcata City Council by June 25 after being named Public Health’s new director, replacing Michele Stephens.
“Starting June 27, I will begin a new chapter as the Public Health Director for the county of Humboldt, Department of Health and Human Services. I am honored and excited to take on this new role to serve our community and improve our community’s health and wellbeing. However, this decision was not taken lightly and prompts me to reflect on our time together since December 2014,” Pereira said in a letter to the Arcata community.
Pereira was first elected to the Arcata City Council in 2014 and served as a council member for over six consecutive years, serving as mayor in 2018 and 2021.
“Sofia has well-established relationships at both the local and state level, which will be beneficial in her new role,” said DHHS Director Connie Beck.
The release states that in her role as Public Health director, “Pereira will focus on guiding Public Health programs and services through the new lens of COVID-19 while integrating lessons learned during the pandemic and continuing to improve the community’s health and preparedness.”
Beginning at the end of June, Pereira will oversee the county’s Communicable Disease Program and its continued expansion due to COVID-19 funding, the Public Health Clinic, Public Health Nursing, Environmental Health, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health programs including the Women, Infants & Children nutrition program, the department’s laboratory and a variety of grant-funded programs.
Pereira had previously worked as a legislative analyst for DHHS from 2014 through early 2017, and returned to DHHS in 2019 to work as an emergency preparedness
Local Hit
Photo by Thomas Lal Crabs infielder and Eureka High School alum Ethan Fischel (#12) swings the bat at Arcata Ballpark on June 8 against the visiting Bay Area Force. The team’s 2021 campaign is off to good start, with six straight wins following their season opening loss. POSTED 06.14.21
analyst for the Public Health Branch and was promoted to program coordinator for the same program less than a year later.
“I have the utmost confidence that the city council will continue to advance the work of making Arcata a more equitable, healthy, and livable community for all Arcatans.” Pereira wrote in the letter announcing she was stepping down. ”Arcata, you are in good hands! And I will continue this mission for Arcata and the County. My career in public service began well before I was an elected official, and I will continue to serve the public’s interest beyond my time as an elected official.”
— Iridian Casarez POSTED 6.14.21 Read the full story online.
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