Cori McKean On The Issues

Kittitas County is growing fast, and our Coroner’s Office is doing its best in an aging building without a morgue of our own. Right now, we either rely on local funeral homes as morgue and other county coroner or medical examiner’s office for autopsy suites. That means we don’t have a dedicated place to care for our loved ones or conduct the work that keeps families informed and our community safe. It’s time for a simple, purpose‑built facility that lets us care for our community right here at home. With a recent feasibility study, Cori has started the conversation for the county’s first morgue, not big‑city bureaucracy, just a practical, rural solution that keeps costs down, keeps dignity close, and keeps this county self‑reliant, the way folks here believe in — with a proper facility designed to handle this work with care.

The Coroner’s Office plays a vital role in transparency and accountability, and Cori works every day to strengthen that trust through high professional standards, clear communication, and genuine community engagement. She’s deeply proud of the dedicated team she leads, folks who consistently step up, support one another, and serve our county with heart. Cori invests in the team through continuing education and career development, ensuring they remain state certified, current in best practices, and ready for the county’s evolving needs. By upholding accreditation, fostering professional growth, and operating with openness, the office continues to build public confidence and serve families with dignity and respect.

With an eye on the future, Cori is building strong, genuine partnerships across our local public‑safety family — from first responders to the Health Department — so folks here receive coordinated, compassionate care when they need it most. With an eye on prevention, she’s also building relationships and creating a practical, community‑minded program to help neighbors stay safer and better supported.

The office continues to work closely with Central Washington University through an internship program that gives students real, hands‑on experience in forensic work, helping raise the next generation of service‑minded professionals.

By nurturing these hometown partnerships, investing in future talent, and strengthening prevention efforts, with Cori our Coroner’s Office deepens its roots and continues serving this community with the care and commitment of a good neighbor.