Gov. Gregoire appoints Raymond Paolella to Eastern Washington Growth Management Hearings Board

For Immediate Release: May 29, 2008

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced the appointment of Raymond Paolella as the attorney member to the Eastern Washington Growth Management Hearings Board, effective July 1, 2008. The appointment expires June 30, 2014.

The Growth Management Hearings Board determines if local policy choices or actions comply with the goals and requirements of the Growth Management Act.

Paolella, 52, is the city attorney for the city of Yakima. He will replace Denny Dellwo of Spokane, who is completing his second term.

�With his extensive knowledge of land use and planning issues, Ray will serve the citizens of Washington well and be a valuable member of the board,� Gregoire said.

�I am honored that Governor Gregoire has appointed me to the Growth Management Hearings Board for Eastern Washington,� Paolella said. �I look forward to serving the citizens of the state.�

An attorney for the city of Yakima since 1991, Paolella advises the City Council on municipal law matters, including land use and environmental issues. He previously worked as an attorney for Halverson & Applegate in Yakima, focusing on environmental law, land use, real property, water rights and business purchase and sale transactions.

Paolella has served as president of the William O. Douglas Trail Foundation since 2005, and is past president of the Cowiche Canyon Conservancy and The Cascadians. He was also chair of the land use and environmental law section of the Washington State Bar Association in 2004 and 2005.

Paolella earned his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering from the University of Virginia and received his law degree from the University of Puget Sound.

The position pays $95,384 annually.

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