As committee assignments are announced in advance of the 2009 session, there are a number of changes on the Higher Education committees in both houses.
In the Senate, the committee has been renamed the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee, its scope expanded and its membership increased. Sen. Derek Kilmer of Gig Harbor will take over the Chair, with Sen. Fred Jarrett of Mercer Island as the Vice Chair. Newly elected 2nd District Sen. Randi Becker will be the Ranking Republican member; she represents rural Pierce and Thurston Counties and defeated incumbent Sen. Marilyn Rasmussen in November. Sen. Paull Shin remains on the committee but all of the other members are new including Senate Republican Leader Sen. Mike Hewitt (Walla Walla), Sen. Ken Jacobsen (Seattle), Sen Jim Kastama (Puyallup), Sen. Rosemary McAuliffe (Seattle), Sen. Cheryl Pflug (Maple Valley), and Sen. Val Stevens (Arlington).
In the House, the Higher Education committee will see three new members. Joining the committee will be new Reps. Reuven Carlyle (Seattle), Scott White (Seattle), and John Driscoll (Spokane). They will join returning Chair Rep. Deb Wallace (Vancouver), Vice Chair Rep. Mike Sells (Everett), Ranking Republican member Rep. Glenn Anderson (Fall City), and Rep. Bob Hasegawa (Seattle). House Republicans have not yet announced the balance of their committee members.
Another change, this time in the executive branch, sees DSHS Director Robin Arnold-Williams moving over to run the Governor’s Executive Policy staff, replacing Laurie Dolan who is retiring. No announcement yet on a new DSHS head.