Kathleen Drew
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced the appointment of Ohio University alum Kathleen Drew ’81 as chair of the state’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council. The council reviews siting proposals for major energy facilities, according to a news release.
Drew earned a B.A. in Political Science from the College of Arts & Sciences.
Drew is a longtime public servant and former state senator who currently works as assistant director of the Washington State Department of Licensing’s Business and Professions Division. There, she oversees 280 employees, 44 programs and 10 boards and commissions. She will begin her EFSEC duties on Jan. 16.
“Kathleen has more than 30 years of experience in public sector policy, communications and management at numerous government agencies,” Inslee said. “She has proven to be both impartial and a consensus builder with an ability to work with multiple stakeholders to get the job done, and I believe she is a perfect fit for this role.”
Prior to her four years at DOL, Drew served as a policy adviser for both the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services and in Gov. Chris Gregoire’s Administration, where she worked on numerous environmental issues. She has served as a community and government relations director at the University of Washington Bothell, as a community relations manager at Sound Transit, and as a public information consultant for the Port of Seattle.
Drew was a state senator in the 5th Legislative District from 1993 to 1997. She has bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio University and a bachelor’s degree in communication from The Evergreen State College.
Drew replaces Roselyn Marcus, who began serving as EFSEC interim chair in September following the resignation of Bill Lynch. Marcus will return to the Office of Financial Management once Drew takes the helm.
EFSEC reviews projects through a quasi-judicial process that includes studies and public hearings, culminating in making a recommendation on the project to the governor, who then has 60 days to approve or reject an application or return it to the council for reconsideration.
Inslee has asked that in 2018 Drew undertake a strategic review of EFSEC to determine whether the council’s membership should be broadened, find ways to consolidate and streamline the council’s work, and reassess the scope and role of the council in light of changes in the energy industry and the state’s need for reliable, affordable and clean energy.
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