Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 9, 2001
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke selects Isaki as chief of staff

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today selected Paul Isaki, his special trade representative, as his new chief of staff.

Isaki, 56, replaces Joe Dear, who resigned after four years in the position to work in the private sector.

In announcing the appointment, Locke called Isaki a longtime, trusted advisor as well as a special blend of public servant and entrepreneurial businessman.

"That background and those skills are critical in an era when state government must forge alliances with business, unions and citizen groups in order to accomplish our ambitious goals in education, transportation, energy and water reform over the next four years," Locke said.

Isaki said, "I'm honored to join the governor in his second term in helping to forge great things for the state of Washington."

Isaki has served as Locke's special trade representative since April 1999. In that position, he sought to help Washington companies by removing unfair trade barriers in foreign markets and promoting state products.

Before returning to state service, Isaki was a vice president of the Seattle Mariners where he led the team's effort to develop SAFECO Field.

He honed his business development skills as Gov. Booth Gardner's chief advisor on business issues and as his director of the Department of Trade and Economic Development.

Don Brunell, president of the Association of Washington Business, commented, "I have known Paul for a long time-since the days of Booth Gardner. I have always found him to be very capable. Paul is someone people can work with. He knows the process here in Olympia, both on the agency and legislative sides."

Rick Bender, president of the Washington State Labor Council, also praised Isaki's appointment.

"Paul always has known an educated workforce receiving a fair wage for its hard work is a key component of Washington's booming economy," Bender said. "I know he'll continue to appreciate the contribution the state's working men and women make as he oversees the development of state policies in the executive and legislative branches."

Isaki begins his job on Feb. 5 at an annual salary of $126,000.

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