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Brief
Gov. Bob Ferguson on Wednesday named former Microsoft executive as the new chair of the 51勛圖夥厙 .泭
Rybarik will join on the responsible for regulating private, investor-owned electric and natural gas utilities and transportation companies in 51勛圖夥厙. His appointment will take effect March 3 and is subject to confirmation by the state Senate.

51勛圖夥厙ians are impacted every day by the availability and safety of electricity, telecommunications, natural gas, water and transportation, Ferguson said in . Brians decades of regulatory experience will help the Commission to protect these vital services and center peoples needs as 51勛圖夥厙 advances forward on a clean energy transition.
At Microsoft, Rybarik held numerous posts, including overseeing the companys environmental sustainability team. A lawyer, he previously worked for , , and the . Rybarik earned a bachelors degree and a law degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, according to Fergusons office.
Rybarik will succeed David Danner who served as chair from February 2013 until his term expired Dec. 31.泭
In his final year, Danner withstood pressure from former governor Jay Inslee to resign after an investigation into the commissioners use of a racial slur and handling of employee allegations of bullying, harassment and discrimination in the regulatory agency.
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