Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - October 25, 1999
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke appoints Brown Director of the Office of Financial Management

OLYMPIA — Gov. Gary Locke today appointed Marty Brown Director of the Office of Financial Management (OFM), the agency that oversees the state budget for the governor's office.

Brown has been Locke's deputy chief of staff since December, 1998, and has been director of legislative affairs from the start of the governor's administration in January, 1997.

He succeeds Dick Thompson, who is leaving the job of OFM director to become director of governmental affairs at the University of Washington.

"Marty Brown is one of the most skilled and respected people in state government," Locke said. "He has worked on the state budget both for the legislature and for my office, and he brings a practical and thoughtful approach to the job. He is the perfect person to succeed Dick Thompson because their skills are similar."

OFM has a central role in budget planning, policy development, and fiscal administration for the executive branch. OFM prepares the executive budget proposals; maintains the statewide accounting system and central books of accounts; prepares official state census estimates and forecasts trends; and prepares statistical and narrative documents on state programs and issues.

Brown is a 1974 graduate of the University of Iowa. He worked for the Iowa State Senate and Congressman Mike Blouin before moving to Tacoma in 1976 to attend the University of Puget Sound Law School. He received his law degree there in 1979.

He began working for the Washington State Senate in 1978. He was on committee staff for three years and then served as Democratic Caucus attorney for 10 years. He was Senate Democratic Staff Director for two years, and in 1993 was elected Secretary of the Senate and served in that capacity until 1997.

Brown said, "I am honored with the trust Governor Locke has placed in me. I am eager to work with the Governor and the Legislature in this new role. Following in the footsteps of Dick Thompson should be easy because Dick has left OFM in great shape. I am excited to join a very talented and creative staff."

Brown, 47, will be paid 122,877 as Director of OFM. He will assume his new post in November.

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