Head of Benton Franklin Health district resigns after being placed on leave

Jason Zaccaria, the district administrator for the Benton Franklin Health District, has resigned after being placed on administrative leave last week.

Will McKay, board chairman for the Tri-Cities, Wash.,-based health district, announced at a special meeting Wednesday that Zaccaria resigned Monday.

After a closed-door session, the board voted to name the district’s assistant administrator, Janae Parent, as the interim administrator.

Parent recommended the board create a recruitment committee of three board members and three staff members. The board is expected to consider doing that and the next steps at its August meeting.

Health district officials and the district’s attorney have declined to say why Zaccaria was placed on administrative leave July 19, saying it is a personnel issue they are not at liberty to discuss. Zaccaria did not return a phone call from the Tri-City Herald.

Zaccaria has been the district administrator for 12 years.

Previously he was an administrator at outpatient clinics and hospitals and held an executive leadership role with the Hanford site occupational medicine clinics.

Eight months ago union leaders for the health district staff said workers had no confidence in Zaccaria, but it’s not clear whether that influenced his decision.

This story was originally published July 26, 2023 at 2:35 PM.