Inslee hires headhunters to find leaders for state agencies
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Gov.-elect Jay Inslee has hired an Olympia head-hunting firm to find the best people to lead Washington's top agencies in his administration.
Inslee has told all Gov. Chris Gregoire's cabinet members that they will need to reapply for their jobs if they want to continue leading a state agency, The Olympian reported in Saturday's newspaper.
In the meantime, Karras Consulting is posting ads seeking people to lead the Department of Transportation, the Department of Social and Health Services, Employment Security, Labor and Industries and other top state jobs.
This reflects the reality that "you have the opportunity at the beginning of an administration to make sure you have the absolute best person" in every agency, Inslee spokesman Sterling Clifford said.
So far, a few incumbents - including Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond - are asking to stay on.
"Paula submitted her résumé to the Inslee team and is interested in staying on as Transportation secretary and continuing to improve the state's multimodal transportation system," DOT spokesman Steve Pierce said in an email. "Paula is committed to addressing the challenges of insufficient funding over the next 10 years to maintain and preserve existing transportation assets around the state."
Mike Armstrong, a Wenatchee Republican who worked for the Department of Transportation for 21 years and helped write the state's transportation budget as a state legislator, may also be interested in the top DOT job.
Armstrong lost his bid for re-election to the House in November. He has told Inslee he is interested in the job and said he probably would apply.
"There are some things that need to have some special attention paid to them," Armstrong said, citing concerns about the state ferry system and the planned replacements of the state Route 520 bridge over Lake Washington and the Columbia River Crossing on Interstate 5. "Having a fresh look and a new set of eyes might not be a bad idea."
Armstrong supervised bridge crews at Transportation, then served 12 years in the House, eventually becoming the top Republican on the Transportation Committee. He helped Democratic Chairwoman Judy Clibborn write the budget that includes the department's operations, and he said the bipartisan cooperation was unprecedented on that committee in recent years.
Some agency leaders have said they are leaving. Judy Schurke told Gregoire a few weeks ago she is leaving Labor and Industries, and DSHS Secretary Robin Arnold-Williams plans to go back to consulting and teaching at the University of Washington.
Another big void is being created at the Office of Financial Management where state budget director Stan Marshburn is retiring. His immediate predecessor, Marty Brown, left just a few months ago to direct the community college system.
Inslee has told all Gov. Chris Gregoire's cabinet members that they will need to reapply for their jobs if they want to continue leading a state agency, The Olympian reported in Saturday's newspaper.
In the meantime, Karras Consulting is posting ads seeking people to lead the Department of Transportation, the Department of Social and Health Services, Employment Security, Labor and Industries and other top state jobs.
This reflects the reality that "you have the opportunity at the beginning of an administration to make sure you have the absolute best person" in every agency, Inslee spokesman Sterling Clifford said.
So far, a few incumbents - including Transportation Secretary Paula Hammond - are asking to stay on.
"Paula submitted her résumé to the Inslee team and is interested in staying on as Transportation secretary and continuing to improve the state's multimodal transportation system," DOT spokesman Steve Pierce said in an email. "Paula is committed to addressing the challenges of insufficient funding over the next 10 years to maintain and preserve existing transportation assets around the state."
Mike Armstrong, a Wenatchee Republican who worked for the Department of Transportation for 21 years and helped write the state's transportation budget as a state legislator, may also be interested in the top DOT job.
Armstrong lost his bid for re-election to the House in November. He has told Inslee he is interested in the job and said he probably would apply.
"There are some things that need to have some special attention paid to them," Armstrong said, citing concerns about the state ferry system and the planned replacements of the state Route 520 bridge over Lake Washington and the Columbia River Crossing on Interstate 5. "Having a fresh look and a new set of eyes might not be a bad idea."
Armstrong supervised bridge crews at Transportation, then served 12 years in the House, eventually becoming the top Republican on the Transportation Committee. He helped Democratic Chairwoman Judy Clibborn write the budget that includes the department's operations, and he said the bipartisan cooperation was unprecedented on that committee in recent years.
Some agency leaders have said they are leaving. Judy Schurke told Gregoire a few weeks ago she is leaving Labor and Industries, and DSHS Secretary Robin Arnold-Williams plans to go back to consulting and teaching at the University of Washington.
Another big void is being created at the Office of Financial Management where state budget director Stan Marshburn is retiring. His immediate predecessor, Marty Brown, left just a few months ago to direct the community college system.
Well, the inept are falling like the proverbial row-of-dominoes and it has been long overdue!! A fool never knows what he misses, and a wise man never misses what he knows as too many citizens set their dreams too high and actually believe them. I support Inslee 100% after working for five different gubmint agencies where nothing ever changed, but the names...
How many republicans do you think he will hire? I have mixed feelings about this.
Not saying it's a bad idea or that it shouldn"t be done. I can just imagine the partisan politics that will be involved.
I kind of like it. I know a state agency where it is the good ol boy/girl. Some new blood might shake things up some.
Le plus ca change, le plus la meme chose.
They will be looking at "binders of women" to see if they qualify.
I am thinking all the neigh sayers fear that status quo is no more ..I think the neigh sayers Fear something might change for them.
 @lee986321 I imagine the only things a "neigh sayer" would fear is being shot in the head after breaking a leg or its owner running out of hay in the winter. A naysayer may very well fear a change in the status quo.
 @Daniel  @lee986321 Hahaha.  Good reply.  I find most of Lee's comments to be unrelated or have no bearing on the current article.  A "neigh sayer"?   Lol.
Another monster takes control.. He hired a head hunter agency.. Really.. Disgusting.. I am certain the voters in Washington would not have voted for this loser if they knew he would hire a head hunter agency...
It is not very often that an incoming Governor cleans house, but I am all for it!! Having worked for five different gubmint agencies where nothing ever changes because the inept just get promoted when a higher-up inept retires because the higher-up made sure to surround themselves with more inept people to make themselves look good and have someone to blame. Gosh, reminds me of Omama and I am glad I voted for Inslee like all my Donkey friends...
This is how you find talent in the private sector (well, I guess one way)Â , deal.
Isnt' he spending the taxpayer's money a little early? Â After all, the dumbocraps haven't got the big tax increases they are demanding yet. Â Oh, well, Â if China doesn't give us enough, we'll just tell the mint to print up a few trillion.
@boomer Name calling always adds to one's credibility, doesn't it?
 @I812 Depends on who one is demeaning and like you, he is entitled and I have been chastised by Rob C. for lumping folks into the Volvo & Saab group. It was it is, SIR...
 @I812  @boned Agreed!
@I812 Let's rework this a bit. I generally agree with what I beleive to be your premise, but your sorry attempt at high-falutin' language rather makes you look pompous more than correct. By "high-falutin," I mean constructions like "When one engages..." I have bracketed the corrections so ready reference. Oh. And before you take me to task for being pompous, well, I am. But I am also correct, so I feel OK about it. Anyone can pretty much say whatever [he] want[s] in this forum but you miss my point. When one engages i[n] derogatory name calling simply on the basis of philosophical differences, one devalues [oneself] and [his] argument. I would add that you are correct about name calling as far as you go, but you should point out that it is also the primary tool used by the ignorant to change the subject so as not to have to make a cogent defense of a position.
@I812 .......precisely !
@boned Anyone can pretty much say whatever they want in this forum but you miss my point. When one engages is derogatory name calling simply on the basis of philosophical differences, one devalues themselves and their argument.Â
It doesn't matter who you elect as governor if you have the same old hacks as agency heads you are going to have the same old same old.. He is doing the right thing. Oregon needs to clean house as well.
@Luckylucy There is some truth in what you say. One of the biggest impediments to change is the culture of government employees. If the culture in not changed, there will be no significant change in government. Changing the culture is a daunting challenge but one that is absolutely necessary.
 @Luckylucy >' Oregon needs to clean house as well.'
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Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaamen.Â
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Although, with moscow on the Willamette deciding most state elections, that's highly unlikely. So long as the candidate has a 'D' next to their name, they're a shoe-in.Â
I'm inclined to believe that this is a smart move on Gov Inslees part. Rather than going the typical politician route and repaying favors (IE-nepotism) by giving close friends and allies heads of state agency positions, he's at least giving the impression that he's seeking actual qualifications for lead positions.Â
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..of course, it remains to be seen who he actually hires to these positions. For all I know, hiring the headhunters could just be a payback for campaign donations (IE-the headhunter company/personell could just be major contributors), and he could end up just hiring based on elephants or donkeys on the business cards of applicants.Â
 @MarkKpic Absolutely go outside of the in house status quo and I doubt he took any money from those folks. Major changes are obviously needed when you are dealing with a Donkey mindset of tax and spend by folks already in a position to do so - get rid of them all!!
I guess he has no managerial or recruiting skills. Â WA does have human resources departments that does state hiring, guess he doesn't trust them. Â What a waste of money.
@RandyH Why would anyone use the same people that are part of the problem to recruit more of the same? It's the culture, not the process.
Sounds like a waste of money...typical of liberals.
 @sortbait If this was some goosestepping republican you'd be praising him for his "cost-saving" measures that mimic good business practices in the private sector.
@sortbait Oh and if it was a Republican you would be applauding the change as a great move.Â
Well that is one way to clean House.