The La Plata County Board of Health has named the sole finalist candidate, Theresa Anselmo, as the permanent director of La Plata County Public health.
Anselmo has served as interim director of the department since August 2023.
County staff worked throughout 2023 to build a new public health department after the San Juan Basin Public Heath board voted to dissolve the district, composed of Archuleta and La Plata counties, effective Dec. 31, 2023.
Monday’s unanimous vote is the penultimate step in a 14-month process that has included two rounds of candidate consideration that ended without the selection of a director.
Anselmo was hired after officials opted not to hire the finalist produced in the first search for a director. She did not apply for the job during the second search because she did not want to appear as if she was benefiting from any preference as the incumbent candidate.
Anselmo will be formally hired following the conclusion of contract negotiations; the county listed the job opening with an annual salary of $114,500 to $143,100 depending on experience.
The county public health director oversees the planning, development and implementation of public health services, and administers and enforces public health laws, orders, rules and standards, according to the posting.
In comments made at Monday’s brief meeting, Board of Health President Patricia Supanich-Wall said Anselmo was “definitely” the right fit.
“I don’t think we could be more happy to open up a new chapter of our new public health department,” Supanich-Wall said.
rschafir@durangoherald.com
