Democratic Governor-elect Jay Inslee announced his first five picks for his Cabinet today, including two picks plucked from the private sector.
Speaking at a legislative preview sponsored by the Associated Press, Inslee named
• former state senator Kevin Quigley as director of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), the state’s largest agency
• Dale Peinecke, president of the Everett-based aerospace mannufacturing company Giddens Industries, as head of the state Department of Employment Security, which manages unemployment insurance
• Joel Sacks, currently deputy director of the Employment Security Department, as director of the state Department of Labor and Industries
• Marcie Frost as director of the Department of Retirement Systems, where she is currently deputy director
• Alfie Alvarado-Ramos as director of the state Department of Veterans Affairs, where she is currently deputy director.
The Seattle Times’ political blog rounded up some details on the appointments.
The Times post adds that during his campaign, Inslee vowed to be “a disruptive force” as governor, pledging to bring in people with private sector backgrounds to help him shake up state government.
Inslee is expected to announce more Cabinet picks this week, including a decision on whether to retain State Patrol Chief John Batiste. Inslee will be sworn in as governor on Wednesday.