Booth praises her staff, but criticizes commissioners
Beth Booth
Robbinsville – Graham County Public Health Director Beth Booth has turned in her resignation, effective Feb. 3.
In her resignation letter, a copy of which was provided to The Graham Star following a public records request, Booth praised her staff and accomplishments since she took the job, but criticized the Graham County Board of Commissioners, which also serves as the Board of Health overseeing her department.
Booth has been at the center over a dual controversy involving the availability of Ella, a medically-accepted emergency contraceptive that critics regard as an abortion pill, and the termination of Brandi Adams, a peer support specialist at Tallulah Community Health Center in Robbinsville who lost her job after visiting the health department seeking information about Ella.
Booth called the CEO of Tallulah Community Health Center’s parent company following Adams’ visit and just prior to Adams losing her job.
The Graham Star reached out to Booth, Adams and Board of Commissioners Chairman Jacob Nelms for comment about the resignation. Booth referred The Graham Star to her resignation letter. Adams did not respond. Nelms said the board of commissioners would not be commenting.
Booth has been Graham County Health Director since Nov. 2, 2017. A native of Carteret County, Booth and her husband, Jack, had vacationed in the western mountains of the state. She graduated from East Carolina University in Pitt County, but traveled to Western Carolina University in Cullowhee for an internship to become a registered dietitian. Booth also holds a master’s degree in public health.
“Serving as the Graham County Health Director for the past five years has been an unforgettable experience,” she said in her resignation letter. “I have thoroughly enjoyed working with the community and serving as leader for the health department staff. They are truly an amazing group of people. I have learned so much during my time, and I would not change anything about the experience. Alongside the staff, we built a stellar department that employs the best of the best. It is for them that I am sad. The amount of positive change that I’ve been able to affect in five years has been life altering for many, and I wouldn’t change that for anything and hope that change will continue long after I’m gone.”
Booth said her resignation came after soul searching and deliberation.
“When I took the position as health director, I had some reservations serving under a board of commissioners acting in the role of health board,” she said. “I did so hoping for the best, and worked to improve public health programming and filled gaps in the community.
“Serving under the commissioners as health board has not been an easy task. It is difficult in that public health, and the enforcement of such, is not fully understood unless one works in the field and/or is public health minded. The burden of the county board of health is not fully understood. When the board is driven by political leanings, as elected boards are, it creates discourse and division which could not be overcome in this circumstance.
“I have worked alongside the board for over five years. I had hoped that in that time, I had garnered enough respect and support from each board member to see me and the staff through hard times. Unfortunately, I do not feel this is the case. After the events since August transpired and the way the board chose to handle the issue, I was left feeling alienated. There was criticism of our family planning grant application because of the fallout, and members who chose to go against the recommendations of the advisory board on a medical decision. As such, I made the very difficult decision to step down.”
Booth said she will “miss the staff, and I will miss the promise of the programs I worked so hard to build. I wish only the best for everyone, but especially the staff. They are a great group that deserve so much more recognition than they receive. I will never forget my time with them and always admire them for the fantastic work they’ve done.”