Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - June 24, 2003
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gary Locke Announces Appointments to Boards and Commissions

Gov. Gary Locke today announced the appointments of David S. Harrison of Bainbridge Island to the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, Connie M. Niva of Everett to the Washington State University Board of Regents and Gary Christenson of Olympia to the Horse Racing Commission. Locke also reappointed Hartly Kruger of Spokane and Ralph Vacca of Auburn to the Horse Racing Commission.

Harrison will serve as the chair of the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board (WTECB). Harrison most recently served as senior policy advisor to U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell working with the WTECB, local workforce boards, the state Department of Employment Security and the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges. He played an important role improving workforce investment strategies, which contributed to the creation of the WTECB.

Niva will serve on the Washington State University Board of Regents for a term ending Sept. 30, 2008. Niva currently serves on the Washington State Transportation Commission. She is a member of the Everett Area Chamber of Commerce, Milltown Investment Club and Snohomish County Citizens for Improved Transportation and a founding board member of the Center for Women and Democracy at the University of Washington and president of the board of Housing Hope of Snohomish County.

Christenson will serve on the Horse Racing Commission for a term ending Jan. 17, 2007. Christenson served as director for the Health Care Authority prior to retiring in 2001. He has worked in various capacities in state government serving as the director of the state’s Basic Health Plan, an assistant commissioner for the Employment Security Department and, most recently, as interim director for General Administration.

Kruger and Vacca of Auburn were reappointed to the Horse Racing Commission for terms ending Jan. 17, 2008 and Jan. 17, 2009, respectively. Kruger was first appointed Aug. 18, 1998, and Vacca on May 28, 2002.

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