Governor-elect Jay Inslee announced 5 new cabinet members during the AP Legislative Briefing hearing this morning on the Capitol campus. Touting their work with “lean management” practices, Inslee aid he wants to focus on making government more efficient to get more results out of the resources that the state currently has.

Among the members announced are:

First Five Cabinet Members:

• Former state Sen. Kevin Quigley will lead the state Department of Social and Health Services
• Joel Sacks will lead the Department of Labor & Industries
• Dale Peinecke will take over the Employment Security Department
• Marcie Frost will head up the Department of Retirement Systems
• Alfie Alvarado-Ramos will lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Legislative Priorities:

During the AP legislative briefing Inslee spoke to several of his legislative priorities for the coming session. He plans to focus this year on stirring job growth, through mechanisms such as a tax credit for research and development and policies to boost the clean energy industry. Additionally, Inslee spoke of taking advantage of more Department of Defense contracts and stressed the need to align employer demand with areas of educational study. Specifically, he spoke for the need of an educational “strategic plan” that will identify where gaps exist in “high demand” STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) areas so policy makers can appropriate funds efficiently and effectively.

New Budget Director

Yesterday it was also reported David Schumacher, current Executive Director to the Council of Presidents (COP), has been tapped to serve as Inslee’s new Office of Financial Management’s (OFM) Budget Director. Former Staff Director for the Senate Ways & Means Committee, Schumacher has also worked for Boeing and OFM. Schumacher replaces Stan Marshburn and before him, Marty Brown.

Other Gubernatorial Appointments:

Finally, last week Inslee named his first staffers to join his team. Included is Ted Sturdevant, current Director of the Department of Ecology. Sturdevant will serve as Executive Director for Legislative Affairs and Policy for.  

David Postman, former journalist  for the Tacoma News Tribune and Seattle Times, and former Director of Communications and Media for Paul Allen’s Vulcan, has been tapped as Inslee’s Executive Director of Communications.

Finally, Joby Shimomura will serve as Senior Advisor. Shimomura managed Inslee’s gubernatorial campaign and served as Inslee’s chief of staff from 1999-2005.