Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 12, 1998
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke appoints state transportation study panel members

OLYMPIA - Gov. Gary Locke today announced appointments to a state panel set up to analyze state transportation needs and funding issues and propose long-term financing solutions.


The members of the Transportation Study Panel represent large and small municipalities, transportation, ports, businesses, labor, state agencies and the public across the state.


"The members on this panel are very knowledgeable on the transportation problems facing Washington and have a keen interest in solving them," Locke said. "The panel is starting this study from square one with maximum flexibility. I want this group to be as creative as possible. There are no preconceptions and no hidden agendas."


Doug Beighle, retired senior vice president of The Boeing Company, will serve as chair of the transportation panel. Jon Rindlaub, chief executive officer of SeaFirst Bank, was appointed as vice-chair. The other panel members are:

* Municipalities and transportation organizations: Former Governor Booth Gardner; Richard McIver, Seattle councilperson; Patricia Notter, Wenatchee councilperson; Judy Wilson, Thurston County commissioner; Judie Stanton, Clark County commissioner; Ted Bottiger, Port of Tacoma commissioner; Dave Earling, Edmonds councilperson; Bettie Ingham, Yakima County commissioner; Charles Mott, president, Washington Rail Passengers Association.

* Industry/labor: Larry Pursley, executive vice president, Washington State Trucking Association; Art Jackson, vice president for government and external affairs, The Bon Marche; Patricia Otley, government affairs representative, Burlington - Northern Santa Fe; Peter Bennett, vice president of Pacific Northwest, K-Line America Inc.; John Kelly, chairman, president and chief executive officer, Alaska Airlines; Doug Hurley, vice president, CH2M Hill; Bill Lampson, president, Lampson International Ltd.; Roger Dormaier, Wheat Growers Association and chair of the Transportation Committee; Rick Bender, president, Washington State Labor Council; Bob Helsell, chairman and chief executive officer, Wilder Construction; Tomio Moriguchi, chief executive officer and president of the board, Uwajimaya, Inc.; Skip Rowley, president, Rowley Enterprises; and Ken Smith, president, WaferTech.

* Public: Peter Hurley, Alt-Trans, of Everett; Dale Stedman, former president, Inland AAA, of Spokane; and Neil Peterson, former director of Metro and former director of Los Angeles Rapid Transit, of Seattle.

* State agencies: Connie Niva, commissioner, Washington Transportation Commission; Tim Ceis, senior executive policy coordinator, Office of Financial Management; and Jennifer Joly, executive policy advisor, Governor's Executive Policy Office.

Also serving on the panel are eight legislators. They were appointed by the House and Senate majority and minority leaders. The legislators are:

Legislators: Rep. Ruth Fisher, D-Tacoma; Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island; Sen. Valoria Loveland, D-Pasco; Rep. Maryann Mitchell, R-Federal Way; Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle; Sen. Eugene Prince, R-Spokane; Sen. Dino Rossi, R-Issaquah; and Rep. Karen Schmidt, R-Bainbridge Island

In its last session, the Legislature appropriated $1 million to fund the panel's comprehensive analysis of statewide transportation needs, funding and policies.

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