Jay Manning is now director of the state Department of Ecology. In two weeks, he’ll become Gov.Chris Gregoire’s chief of staff.

This move continues Gregoire’s penchant for reshuffling her cabinet and top jobs.

I can’t wait to read the BIAW blog on this appointment. A couple years ago, the building industry compared the ecology department to Nazis.

Governor Gregoire names Jay Manning as Chief of Staff

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today named Jay Manning as chief of staff in the Governor’s Office. Manning will begin his new duties on Oct. 19.

Manning, a third-generation Washingtonian, has served as director of the Washington Department of Ecology since February 2005. He previously worked as an attorney in private practice and, earlier, an assistant state attorney general.

He replaces Cindy Zehnder, who announced in August her plan to step down.

“Jay Manning brings incredible leadership skills and knowledge of our state to this new position,” Gregoire said. “He works effectively with citizens all across our state. He has an extraordinary ability to bring people together to forge solutions to difficult problems and seize opportunities for Washington state.”

Gregoire thanked Zehnder for her service, adding, “I am deeply grateful to Cindy for her dedicated service to me and to the people of Washington. She helped guide state government through natural emergencies and a deep national recession. Washington is better because of the contributions she has made.”

“I’m excited to take on this new assignment,” Manning said. “Chief of staff is a big and challenging job, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to work with Gov. Gregoire on a wide array of issues that are important to all of us who live in Washington.”

A graduate of South Kitsap High School in Port Orchard, Manning earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Eastern Washington University and a law degree from the University of Oregon. He and Lorraine, his wife of 29 years, have three children and reside in Olympia.