Gov. Chris Gregoire today named Jay Manning as her new chief of staff.
Manning, who currently runs the state Department of Ecology, will succeed Cindy Zehnder. He will begin work Oct. 19
Manning has served as the state’s ecology director since February 2005. He previously worked as an attorney in private practice and as an assistant state attorney general.
“Jay Manning brings incredible leadership skills and knowledge of our state to this new position,” Gregoire said in a prepared statement. “He works effectively with citizens all across our state. He has an extraordinary ability to bring people together to forge solutions to difficult problems and seize opportunities for Washington state.”
“I’m excited to take on this new assignment,” Manning said in the same announcement. “Chief of staff is a big and challenging job, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to work with Gov. Gregoire on a wide array of issues that are important to all of us who live in Washington.”
A graduate of South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard, Manning earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Eastern Washington University and a law degree from the University of Oregon.
As for Zehnder, well she’s not rushing into any new gig.
She could find herself in a high profile post in the coming months. There are some quietly rooting for her to be appointed executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Board next year. Ann Daley, who holds the job now, has announced she will retire next Spring.
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