State Democratic Party Chairman Dwight Pelz called a few minutes ago to complain about Attorney General Rob McKenna's new chief of staff - Randy Pepple.

"I think it's a scandal," Pelz said. "He's hiring a campaign manager and he's using public funds. Randy Pepple is a political operative. He's not a chief of staff."

Specifically, Pelz argues Pepple will help position McKenna to run for governor in 2012.

McKenna announced earlier today he was bringing Pepple on board to replace his outgoing chief of staff Mike Bigelow, who will retire on June 30.

Pepple used to head the Northwest offices of Hill and Knowlton, a multinational communications firm, and for the past 18 months ran his own consulting firm. Pepple has done political consulting for candidates and also had corporate clients, including the Seattle Children's Hospital, the Washington Roundtable and the Seattle Chamber of Commerce.

Pepple notes he also served as chief of staff for former Republican U.S. Rep. Rick White from 1995 to 1999.

"I've been a chief of staff. I know what the role is to serve an elected official and make sure their offices are managed efficiently, that their policy objectives are developed strategically ... and they have good staff and do good work," Pepple said.

As for Pelz's allegations: "Chairman Pelz has the job of making everything political," he said, "It's his job to see political conspiracies behind anything that's done."

Both Pepple and McKenna said they have not discussed a possible bid for governor in 2012.

McKenna said he's known Pepple for 30 years and likes the fact he has private sector experience and had served as a chief of staff before.

"Regardless of what I do in the future, the most important thing now is to be the most effective attorney general possible and lead the most successful attorney general office possible. Randy is going to help me do that," he said.

You can read McKenna's press release about Pepple on the jump.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2009

McKenna announces new Chief of Staff

OLYMPIA - Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced the selection of former congressional chief of staff and private sector CEO Randy J. Pepple as his new Chief of Staff, effective June 1.

Pepple joins the Attorney General's Office with more than two decades of experience in management, public policy, strategic planning, media relations and community engagement. His experience includes serving as Chief of Staff to a U.S. Congressman, leading the Northwest offices of the multinational communications consultancy Hill & Knowlton and, most recently, managing his own strategic communications consulting firm.

"Randy's combination of management, strategic planning, public policy and communications expertise is ideal as we work to advance the public policy priorities of the Attorney General's Office: community safety, consumer protection and government integrity," McKenna said. "He has experience in the chief of staff role and in managing across multiple offices, as regional CEO of a top national communications firm. He's extremely well-qualified to lead the administrative, communications and policy staff of one of the nation's most active Attorney General's Offices."

Pepple says the decision to suspend his private sector consultancy was bittersweet, but "the opportunity to become Attorney General McKenna's Chief of Staff was too intriguing to let pass."

"I've known Rob almost 30 years. He is a leader in our state and among state attorneys general," Pepple said. "The chance to lead the fine administrative, policy and communications team he's assembled -- and to help advance his policy goals not just in our state, but across the country -- is a great professional challenge."

McKenna's current chief of staff, Mike Bigelow, will retire on June 30, after more than 30 years of government administration and policy work, including positions with the Office of Financial Management, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Seattle School District. Bigelow joined the Attorney General's Office as its CFO in 2005, and McKenna appointed him Chief of Staff in December 2006.

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