Governor Gregoire Announces Boards and Commissions Appointments

For Immediate Release: June 15, 2007

Citizens appointed from East Wenatchee, Mount Vernon, Olympia, Seattle, Spokane, Wenatchee, Woodinville and Yakima

OLYMPIA - Governor Chris Gregoire today announced appointments to the following boards and commissions:

Criminal Justice Training Commission
Karen Daniels of Olympia has been reappointed to a term effective July 1, 2007, ending June 30, 2013. Ms. Daniels is the chief deputy of the Thurston County Sheriff�s Office Corrections Bureau. She has 36 years experience in the corrections field and serves on county, state and national committees and has published several works pertaining to criminal justice, including issues specific to Washington.

The Commission develops and implements training standards and programs and establishes standards relating to physical, mental and moral fitness for recruiting criminal justice personnel.

Higher Education Coordinating Board
Jesus Hernandez of Wenatchee has been reappointed to a term effective July 1, 2007, ending June 30, 2011. Mr. Hernandez is the Executive Director for Community Choice PHCO. He is a member of the board of the Wenatchee School District and serves as a mediator between parents, teachers and schools.

Sam Smith of Seattle has been reappointed to a term effective July 1, 2007, ending June 30, 2011. Mr. Smith is a President Emeritus of Washington State University, serving as President from 1985-2000. He was the Dean of the Department of Agriculture at Pennsylvania State University and an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He was a NATO postdoctoral fellow and has honorary doctoral degrees from Far Eastern State University in Vladivostok, Russia and Nihon University in Tokyo, Japan. Mr. Smith is on the board of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges.

Sasha Sleiman of East Wenatchee has been appointed to a term effective July 1, 2007, ending June 30, 2008. Ms. Sleiman will graduate from Western Washington University in 2009 with a degree in public relations and political science. She was the legislative liaison for the Associated Students of Western Washington University and the vice president of finance for Washington Student Lobby.

The Board studies, plans and coordinates higher education among various institutions and agencies within Washington.

Governor�s Council of Economic Advisors
Dan Thomas of Seattle has been appointed to a term effective June 6, 2007, ending at the Governor�s pleasure. Mr. Thomas is the chief financial office and treasurer for the Port of Seattle. He is the president of the Washington Chapter of Financial Executives International, the chair of the board of Northwest Harvest and a trustee for the Port of Seattle Warehousemen�s Pension Trust.

The Council advises the Governor on state financial matters, including the state budget, tax policy, the issuance of debt and debt management, cash management and other fiscal matters that reflect upon the overall financial condition of Washington.

Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Plan 2 Pension Board
Kelly Fox of Olympia has been reappointed to a term effective July 1, 2007, ending June 30, 2013. Mr. Fox is the chair of the board. He is a professional firefighter for the City of Olympia and holds the rank of Lieutenant with the Olympia Fire Department. He is serving his fourth two-year term as president of the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters. He is active with the International Association of Fire Fighters/International Association of Fire Chiefs as a facilitator in labor-management relations.

Clinton Olson of Woodinville has been reappointed to a term effective July 1, 2007, ending June 30, 2011. Mr. Olson is a volunteer firefighter and a fire commissioner. He worked for the King County Sheriff�s Office as a training tactical officer, a detective and a patrol sergeant. Mr. Olson also served in the US Army.

The Board provides a reserve for the payment of death, disability and retirement benefits to law enforcement officers, fire fighters, and their beneficiaries.

Tobacco Settlement Authority
Jeff Newgard of Yakima has been appointed to a term effective May 30, 2007, ending June 1 2010. Mr. Newgard is the president and chief executive officer of Yakima National Bank. He was the Columbia region president for AmericanWest Bank and the vice president of Baker Boyer National Bank. He is active in the West Richland Economic Advisory Board, the Association of Washington Business and the Hanford Area Investment Fund Committee.

The tobacco prevention and control account was created in the state treasury. The source of revenue for this account is from the tobacco settlement account, investment earnings, donations to the account and other revenues as directed by law.

Emergency Management Council
Brian Schaeffer of Spokane has been appointed to term effective May 29, 2007, ending at the Governor�s pleasure. Mr. Schaeffer is the assistant chief of the Spokane Fire Department. He was the fire chief and deputy fire chief for various fire departments, including the City of Yakima. Mr. Schaeffer is a member of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and has been a member of the board of the Washington Fire Chiefs. He volunteers for the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society.

The Council advises the Governor and Director of the Emergency Management Division on all matters relating to state and local emergency management, providing the Governor with an annual assessment of statewide preparedness for all natural, technological and man-made hazards. They periodically convene in special session as the State Emergency Response Committee to improve emergency preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery for hazardous materials.

Fire Protection Policy Board
Dean Shelton of Mount Vernon has been appointed to a term effective May 25, 2007, ending April 15, 2010. Mr. Shelton is a captain for the Marysville Fire District and is a certified paramedic. He is a Skagit County Fire District Commissioner and coaches little league baseball.

The Board sets policy on fire-protection matters and advises and assists the chief of the Washington State Patrol and the director of fire protection on all fire-protection matters and in developing a budget.

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