Governor-elect Jay Inslee today named a software executive and two leaders of public education to lead his transition team.
Inslee named Microsoft General Counsel and Vice President Brad Smith, Washington State University President Elson Floyd and Renton schools Superintendent Mary Alice Heuschel as the first members of the group will help him form a cabinet to run the state starting in January.
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Inslee called the trio “change agents” who embody the “spirit of innovation” and will help form an administration representative of the entire state.
“All three have great experience leading large organizations; all three have brought innovation and creativity to their positions, and I look forward to their counsel and leadership as we prepare to move Washington forward,” he said in a prepared statement.
None of the three said publicly if they had voted for Inslee or his Republican rival, Rob McKenna in the recent election.
Smith did contribute to both candidates for governor giving $3,200 to McKenna and $1,600 to Inslee, according to state Public Disclosure Commission records.
Floyd didn’t contribute to either candidate but did give $1,000 to the Senate Republican Campaign Committee, while also contributing to state Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, and Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor.
Heuschel did garner attention for publicly opposing the charter school measure, Initiative 1240.
Guiding the transition team will be Brian Bonlender, a senior campaign advisor who served as chief of staff of Inslee’s congressional office.
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