Fred Kiga, Gov. Gary Locke’s former revenue director and chief of staff, has been appointed to the University of Washington Board of Regents.

Another close Locke ally, Bill Marler of Bainbridge Island, was appointed by the governor to the Higher Education Coordinating Board. Marler, a lawyer and a key member of Locke’s “kitchen cabinet,” will leave his post as a regent of Washington State University. No successor on the WSU board was named.

I will succeed state economist Chang Mook Sohn, whose term was limited. I’ll serve a four-year term.