Council calls for removal of doctor from health board

Whitefish Mayor John Muhlfeld and City Council are calling for the removal of a doctor from the Flathead City-County Board of Health following her comments regarding COVID-19.

Dr. Annie Bukacek, in a video posted on YouTube from the Liberty Fellowship Church, questions the accuracy of COVID-19 death statistics. She also organized a protest last month of the City of Kalispell’s state-of-emergency declaration and has spoken out against health officials’ guidelines to social distance and to stay at home.

In a letter to Flathead County Commissioners, Whitefish officials say Bukacek’s recent actions cannot be tolerated and “rise to the level of malfeasance” and “violate the public trust.”

“Dr. Bukacek’s actions demonstrate an appalling disregard of the clear direction given by both state and local officials,” they say. “Rather than promoting public health, as is Dr. Bukacek’s obligation, she is actively undermining it by publicly diminishing the very real threat of COVID-19.”

Two County Commissioners say it’s unlikely that Bukacek will be removed from the health board.

Commissioner Phil Mitchell said he’s struggled with the decision, but also points out that it takes two commissioners to place an item on the agenda.

“This is a hard one and I’m struggling with it,” Mitchell told the Pilot. “Annie has been so vocal and she does have the right to her opinion, but I do wish she’d tone it down.”

Mitchell says Bukacek represents only one voice on the nine member health board and appointing her to the board was about bringing a different opinion that he says even he doesn’t agree with.

“It takes two county commissioners to ask for her removal,” he said. “I don’t think I have the support of the other commissioners to do that.”

Commissioner Randy Brodehl says the letter from the city hasn’t changed his mind in his support for Bukacek remaining on the health board.

“She has not broken the law,” he said. “As with anyone else that’s on one of our boards unless you have been convicted of a crime we don’t have the grounds to remove any board member.”

Brodehl says Bukacek has a First Amendment right to express her personal opinions, and he wouldn’t remove her for doing so.

Commissioner Pam Holmquist did not return a call seeking comment on the matter.

Whitefish in its letter says that while as a private citizen, Bukacek has the right to engage in free speech, her use of her position as a health board member to promote her personal views, which lack scientific support and “undoubtedly endanger public health” is unacceptable.

Bukacek’s “right to engage in free speech ends where the public right to be safe from COVID-19 begins,” the letter says.

In an email interview with the Hungry Horse News, Bukacek said that she has been expressing her opinion not as a member of the health board, but rather as a citizen and private practice medical doctor.

Whitefish City Council received several letters from citizens seeking the removal of Bukacek from the board.

Kalispell Mayor Mark Johnson, during the Kalispell City Council meeting on April 20, said Kalispell had also received a large number of emails regarding Bukacek.

“Even though I may not agree with the things Dr. Bukacek says, I will defend the right that she has to say those in our country,” he said. “We do have a First Amendment rights, and as such, she is free to state those opinions.”

Johnson said the decision to appoint Bukacek to the health board lies with the county commissioners, and encouraged those who wish to express their opinion on her holding the position to provide those comments to the commissioners.

Members of the health board are appointed by the county commissioners.