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Inslee announces reopening guidance

Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday announced more details on what COVID mitigation measures will remain in place after the state's economy fully reopens June 30 or earlier.

Industries may return to usual operations at that time – with one caveat: the current applicable masking guidance will still be required. There will be capacity restrictions for large indoor event venues, and there will be certain COVID mitigation measures going on in schools and universities.

Large indoor venues that can accommodate 10,000 or more people will be restricted to 75% capacity after the state lifts most COVID restrictions. The guidance will not require physical distancing, but attendees must follow the current masking requirements.

Larger events have a significantly greater risk of spreading disease than smaller events, especially indoors. The governor said the state will reevaluate this restriction at the end of July.

The current travel guidelines, which largely mirror CDC recommendations, will remain in place.

"I would like to reflect on the progress that we have made as a state. This is an incredible time – vaccinations are widely available and free, more than two-thirds of the people in our state have initiated vaccination; and the public’s confidence in this medical miracle grows each day," Inslee said. "Soon we will be able to go back to more normal operations. We all should be very proud of what we’ve accomplished to save lives."

Inslee names Cami Feek commissioner of the Employment Security Department

Cami Feek

Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday named Cami Feek commissioner of the Washington’s Employment Security Department (ESD). She was appointed acting commissioner in February after former Commissioner Suzi Levine left to work for the Biden-Harris administration.

Feek also previously served as acting commissioner in 2018, and as deputy commissioner and chief operating officer for the past three years. She was hired to ESD as the first program director of the newly developed Paid Family and Medical Leave program, overseeing the successful launch of the nation’s first state paid leave program with no previously existing infrastructure.

“I first started working with Cami through her leadership on the nation’s best Paid Family and Medical Leave program and I was impressed with her knowledge, compassion and ability to work with a variety of divergent stakeholders," Inslee said. "She is a dedicated public servant who knows how crucial workforce development and retraining is to workers and to the economy.

"Cami will continue to prioritize connecting employers with a strong workforce and ensure families and individuals experiencing job loss have the resources they need. Her leadership through the COVID pandemic and strong advocacy on behalf of ESD employees, claimants, and job-seekers has further demonstrated her ability to move ESD into a new phase. I look forward to continuing to work with her and having her join my cabinet."

Feek has worked in state government for over 25 years, experiencing state service from entry to executive level positions. She first worked for the Washington Department of General Administration, now the Department of Enterprise Services.

“From my first day at the ESD, I’ve felt honored and humbled to be a leader in this agency," Feek said. "Having dedicated my life to public service, I see this as a unique opportunity to lead an amazing team committed to making positive impacts and real progress for people in communities across Washington – at a time this is most needed.

"There is no doubt that it has been a difficult time for all of us, and I go into this role with my eyes wide open. ESD is a continuous learning organization, and I am committed to applying all we’ve learned in this crisis to increasing equitable access to our many services and improving the experience for our customers.”

Feek actively works to include Diversity, Equity and Inclusion principles in every team she leads, fostering inclusive structures for both employees and the Washingtonians they serve. She founded the LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group at ESD, winning the agency the Outstanding Agency Award from the Rainbow & Inclusion Network.

Feek earned her bachelor’s degree from The Evergreen State College where she also earned a four-year varsity letter in soccer.

Inslee renews call for climate action

Gov. Jay Inslee on Tuesday issued a video statement following reports that carbon dioxide levels had reached their highest point in 4 million years.

"Climate change is not only manmade through carbon emissions, but its decimation is revving up faster than many expected. These heat-trapping emissions are changing our lives and world for the worse," Inslee said. "The conditions of the world we live in were handed down through the eons, but it took human industry just a few generations to cause damage that could be irreparable. We can save our climate – and with it, our way of life – but time is running out."

Watch the video here.

Inslee names William Kehoe state chief information officer with WaTech

William Kehoe

Gov. Jay Inslee on Thursday named William Kehoe state chief information officer (CIO) with Washington Technology Solutions (WaTech) effective August 1. He replaces Mark Quimby who has served as acting CIO since March when former CIO James Weaver departed from the agency earlier this year. Quimby will return to his position of deputy director for technology and operations.

Kehoe is currently CIO for Los Angeles County, where he has served since 2017. In the position, he made innovation the central tenet of the office, bringing business and IT together to transform the technology strategy and policy in security, information management, governance, and project investment and oversight. More recent work includes the initiation of a regional strategic plan to close the digital divide in the county.

Kehoe has a long history of managing information technology departments in local and state governments, including over 15 years in Washington state agencies and counties. Before working as CIO in Los Angeles, he served as CIO for King County and the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL).

“In our rapidly developing technological landscape, I have no doubt that Bill, a proven innovative leader, is the best person to lead WaTech through their next chapter,” Inslee said. “Under his leadership and experience of over two decades serving as a CIO, WaTech will continue to improve the delivery of quality technology solutions and protect the information of the people and agencies of Washington. I would also like to thank Mark for stepping in these past few months and look forward to our continued work together.”

“I am honored and excited to return to Washington and apply my experience and technology leadership as the state CIO to support the priorities of Governor Inslee, the state agencies and WaTech," Kehoe said. "Technology is a critical strategic component of the state strategy in transforming and improving services to the people of Washington, and WaTech provides important strategic and operational expertise to enable the improvements.”

During his time in Los Angeles, the county received the first Google Future Award for deploying innovative technology solutions, and during his time in Los Angeles County and King County, both counties received the top large County Digital Award from Government Technology.  

Kehoe earned his bachelor’s degree from Gonzaga University.