Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - December 1, 1999
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136
Alt Contact:  Gigi Zenk, Liquor Control Board, 360-664-1774

Locke receives recommendations from Liquor Control Board's Citizen Review Panel

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today received recommendations from the Citizen Review Panel for reforms to policies and enforcement practices at the Liquor Control Board (LCB). The panel submitted its final report to the governor and the LCB today.

"The Citizen Review Panel did an excellent job in identifying problem areas and suggesting workable solutions in a very short time," Locke said. "Many of the ideas for internal reforms will be useful in improving the regulatory functions of the Liquor Control Board."

Locke, recognizing that improvements could be made at the LCB, created the Citizen Review Panel in August to provide an independent review of complaints against the agency and suggest how it can improve overall operations.

"We found the agency going through a time of transition," said Charles Earl, chair of the panel. "Our recommendations focus on clarity and consistency in the agency's management and enforcement activities. We did not find problems that cannot be solved."

Among the recommendations were proposals to streamline agency operations, clarify and update liquor laws and rules, ensure accountability and fairness in the employee complaint processes, beef up training of enforcement officers and provide the agency with an administrative director to handle day-to-day functions.

"I'm glad to see that the panel also supports appointing a director with the authority to manage the agency," Locke said. "I think it's very important to separate policy making from policy execution, but I also think the person in this important role should be directly appointed by the governor to ensure accountability for agency operations."

Locke requested legislation in the 1999 legislative session to create an LCB Director and make the board a part-time rule-making and appeals body. In the meantime, he has asked the LCB to designate an administrative director, using its rule making authority.

The 12 member Citizen Review Panel included a cross-section of members with backgrounds in law enforcement, regulated businesses, local government, labor, health, and management. It met in SeaTac seven times from Sept. 1 through Dec. 1, and also held two public hearings, one in Spokane and one in SeaTac.

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