For 37 years, Whatcom County’s food safety chief opted for education over punishment

Tom Kunesh is retiring this month. He prioritized the people behind each restaurant, served as mentor

By: Sophia Gates

Outlets: Cascadia Daily News

Published: September 8, 2026

Words: 1,192

Last Updated: 2 days, 15 hours ago

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Tom Kunesh had never worked in a restaurant when he began performing food safety inspections for Whatcom County in 1989.

Nearly four decades and thousands of inspections later, he’s learned so much that he can even offer advice to food business owners. He’s done so by staying curious, caring about people and keeping his focus on education rather than punishment.

Ultimately, his team can impose penalties if compliance becomes an issue. “But if …

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