The fifth paper in the Thrive Washington series was released yesterday.  Consolidation versus Specialization looks at ways to restructure the executive branch.  It makes these recommendations:

• Reduce the number of statewide elected officials from nine to six.  (Specifically, have the governor appoint the state insurance commissioner and the lands commissioner and eliminate the elected office of superintendent of public instruction.)
• Adopt Gov. Gregoire’s natural resources reorganization plan.
• Issue an Executive Order requiring the formation of a review team within the DSHS to deliver recommendations to the governor that will eliminate intra-agency overlap, streamline access to agency services, reduce staff needs, improve transparency, and increase accountability.

Only three states elect more independent statewide offices than Washington does.  Having so many elected officials in the executive branch makes for a number of structural problems, which are discussed in the paper.