Gary Gant is out as Pierce County’s Human Services director after fewer than 12 months on the job, with his removal effective May 1. County leaders say the decision followed internal reviews that raised red flags about the quality of briefing materials and oversight of contracts connected to homelessness and affordable housing. The shakeup hands day-to-day control of critical safety-net programs to interim leadership at a tense time, as the county advances multiple grant awards and procurement decisions.
Public records flag shaky briefings and oversight
Public records reviewed by The News Tribune show Deputy County Executive Scott Nicholson sent Gant a sharply worded memorandum on March 16. Nicholson wrote that Human Services briefing materials “were not accurate, complete and decision-ready” and said recent submissions lacked analytical depth.
He pointed specifically to Homeless Housing Program briefings that he said arrived with formatting glitches, muddled options and missing details, warning that such problems could slow senior leaders’ funding and operational calls. The memo made it clear Gant’s continued employment hinged on showing “significant improvement.”
Providers brace as key programs wait for steady leadership
Gant oversaw Pierce County’s homelessness response and affordable-housing efforts, and local service providers say leadership churn can tangle grant timelines and complicate how services actually reach people. Reporting in March noted the county had awarded additional multi-year funding to the Shelter Access Hub, a central intake point for families seeking shelter, and quoted Gant describing the hub as a cornerstone of the county’s homelessness strategy. KNKX reviewed coverage of the award and county statements about keeping the program stable.
Executive steps in, with at-will dismissal and six-figure pay
Documents show County Executive Ryan Mello sent Gant an at-will separation letter on April 13, notifying him he would be released from employment effective May 1, according to The News Tribune. County communications described the director’s post as an exempt at-will role and confirmed Gant’s annual salary at $217,913.73.
Mello’s office says it will conduct an open, merit-based search for a permanent Human Services director and expects to have an offer out by late fall, leaving several more months of interim management ahead.
Short tenure, federal resume and what comes next
Gant joined Pierce County last summer after a competitive hiring process and arrived from a leadership position at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, according to the county’s original announcement introducing him. Pierce County now lists Executive Counsel Julie Murray as Human Services director, and internal emails show she stepped into the interim role in mid April. County officials say they will continue to share updates on the recruitment schedule and staffing shifts as the search moves ahead.
In the meantime, service providers, county council members and residents are watching closely to see whether the transition disrupts contract monitoring or slows support to people experiencing homelessness. Reporters have requested additional personnel records that could shed more light on the internal review, while county leaders insist their top priority is keeping services flowing.
