Washington Governor-Elect Jay Inslee today announced three new additions to his executive office staff. Joining Chief of Staff Mary Alice Heuschel will be Ted Sturdevant as Executive Director for Legislative Affairs and Policy, David Postman as Executive Director of Communications, and Joby Shimomura as Senior Advisor.
“I am committed to fundamental change in the way state government operates, sustained economic growth in Washington, and meaningful improvement in education,” said Governor-Elect Inslee. “We have a lot to get done, and I believe David, Ted and Joby will help drive my agenda and move our state forward.”
Ted Sturdevant was appointed director for the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) in November 2009. Prior to becoming Ecology director, Sturdevant spent seven years as the agency’s director of Governmental Relations and led former Governor Gary Locke’s external affairs team. He also served in a variety of staff positions in the Oregon legislature and worked on several state and national political campaigns in Oregon and Washington State.
“I am very pleased to be joining the Inslee Administration as Executive Director for Legislative Affairs and Policy,” Sturdevant said. “I share Governor-Elect Inslee’s commitment to improved efficiency in state government and his dedication to creating jobs in Washington, and I look forward to helping shape the legislation to get those goals accomplished.”
David Postman began his career as a journalist in 1982 with Alaska Public Radio. He covered Washington government and politics for more than 15 years, first with the News Tribune and later with the Seattle Times. Postman most recently served as Director of Communications and Media at Vulcan Inc.
“I’ve spent most of my career helping inform the public, I’m happy to be continuing that mission with Governor-Elect Inslee,” Postman said. "It will be a great honor to help our new governor keep Washingtonians informed of the significant and meaningful change he will bring to Olympia."
Joby Shimomura managed Governor-Elect Inslee’s campaign and was Chief of Staff in his Congressional office from 1999 to 2005. Shimomura has worked on a number of issue and candidate campaigns in Washington over 18 years.
“Having worked with Governor-Elect Inslee as a Congressman and as a candidate, I know how passionate he is about Washington and how committed he is to moving the state forward,” Shimomura said. “I’m very proud to be helping Governor-Elect Inslee implement his vision for Washington.”
At Governor-Elect Inslee’s direction, the Office of the Governor will be reorganized on January 16th. Constituent Services and Correspondence will report directly to the Executive Director of Communications, and the Office of Legislative Affairs will merge with the Office of Policy to create a single office under the Executive Director for Legislative Affairs and Policy. The reorganization will yield a net reduction of between 4 and 8 positions.