Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 10, 1998
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke announces selections for several state health posts, other boards

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today announced a series of appointments to state boards and commissions. Most of the state panels that were the focus of this round of appointments deal with health issues.

Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care Steering Committee
Locke appointed three new members and appointed seven to additional terms on the Emergency Medical Services and Trauma Care Steering Committee. The new members on the committee are:

Kittitas County Commissioner Bill Hinkle, of Cle Elum. Hinkle also is a part-time paramedic at the Kittitas County Hospital.

Dr. William Powell, of Gig Harbor, is an assistant chief at Madigan Army Medical Center's Department of Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Sam Sharar, of Bainbridge Island, is an associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine's Department of Anesthesiology. He also is an attending physician at Harborview Medical Center's Department of Anesthesiology.

Locke also appointed seven people to another term on the steering committee.

David Byrnes, of Spokane, is a medical services officer for the city of Spokane's Emergency Medical Services system. Byrnes manages the department's $2.3 million budget.

Eric Jensen, of Ellensburg, is an administrator at the Kittitas Valley Community Hospital and currently serves on the board of the Washington Rural Health Association.

Dr. Ron Maier, of Seattle, is the chief surgeon and director of the Northwest Regional Trauma Center at Harborview Medical Center. He has served on the steering committee since its inception in 1990.

Eleanor Nelson, of Moses Lake, is an intravenous technician with Samaritan Ambulance Service.

Dr. Lothar Pinkers is a Bellevue surgeon. He has had his own private practice since 1962.

Margaret Sweasy is director of rehabilitation services at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup. She resides in Spanaway.

Sally Villas, of Chehalis, is director of physical and rehabilitation services at Providence Hospital in Chehalis.

The committee reviews pre-hospital emergency and ambulance service requirements throughout the state. It also reviews regional emergency management plans and advises on rules regarding poison information centers. All terms expire Aug. 15, 2000.

Emergency Management Council
The governor appointed Joann Boggs, a Cusick emergency management and 911 director, Ted Hopkins, a Lincoln County Commissioner from Creston, and Tom Fitzsimmons, of Olympia, the director of the state Department of Ecology, to the Emergency Management Council.

All members serve at the pleasure of the governor. The council advises the governor and the assistant director of the Military Department's Emergency Management division on issues relating to emergency services.

Health and Welfare Advisory Board
James Smith Jr., of Spokane, was named to the Health and Welfare Advisory Board. Smith is director of human resources for the city of Spokane. He also served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force.

Smith fills a vacant position and will serve for the remainder of the term, which expires Dec. 31, 1998. The board reviews health and welfare benefits programs.

Rehabilitation Advisory Council
Othello resident Noemi Ortega, the executive director of the Othello Training Center, Michael Hatch, a licensed rehabilitation counselor from Snohomish, David Pflueger, a Pasco resident and member of St. Luke's Outreach Ministries, and Dorothy Cline, a Puyallup resident and member of the Elk Plain Family Support Center were named to additional terms on the Rehabilitation Advisory Council.

All terms expire Sept. 22, 2000. The council advises the state Department of Social and Health Services on rehabilitation programs for people with disabilities.

Optometry Board
Dr. James Grimes, an optometrist from Olympia, was named to the Optometry Board. The board examines candidates for optometry licenses and registrations. It also adopts regulations to promote public safety. Grimes' term expires Sept. 18, 2000.

Commute Trip Reduction Task Force
John Davis with the Snohomish County Public Works Department will fill the county-representative position on the Commute Trip Reduction Task Force.

Rick Pusateri, of Marysville, also was named to the task force. Pusateri is a unit manager with Safeco Life Insurance Company.

Both members serve at the pleasure of the governor. The task force establishes guidelines for commute trip reduction plans.

Electrical Board
Michael Bitterling, a Gig Harbor engineer, was named to the Electrical Board. Bitterling is president of BCE Engineers in Tacoma. His term expires July 7, 2001. The Electrical Board establishes electrical contractors' licensing requirements and advises the state Department of Labor and Industries on electrical code changes and number of electrical inspectors.

Building Code Council
Stan Price, of Mercer Island, was appointed to another term on the Building Code Council. Price is a principal with Price Consulting on Mercer Island. His term expires Jan. 5, 2001. The council makes recommendations on building code revisions and provides assistance to building officials.

Public Employees' Benefits Board
Bellevue resident Yvonne Tate was appointed to the Public Employees' Benefits Board. Tate is the director of People Programs for the Port of Seattle. Her term expires Oct. 1, 1999. The Public Employees' Benefits Board designs and approves insurance benefit plans for public employees, retirees and other dependents.

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