Helen Sommers: An Oral History

Victor Moore
and she’d always have some fantastic itinerary for
a trip and she’d traveled all over the world.
She loved archeological digs and was very interested
in history and art. She also loved gardening,
cooking and fine wines. Often, before we got into
budget issues I’d say, “Tell me about your trip – or
your garden.” She loved to talk about stuff like
that. You all of a sudden saw a different person.
She immediately softened and you could hear the
enthusiasm of her travel and all the things she
observed. She was a very keen observer when she
traveled overseas.
Helen had a good relationship with Governor
Chris Gregoire, and the governor certainly shares
Helen’s commitment to higher education. But I do
remember, after I left the House to become Gregoire’s
director of the Office of Financial Management,
the governor proposed a “Rainy Day Fund” in the
Constitution. We worked it hard in committee and
the governor worked it hard in the wings. Helen
probably wouldn’t have let it out of committee unless
the governor really insisted on it, and it was a
big ask from Governor Gregoire.
Helen personally was very much opposed to the
“Rainy Day Fund,” but she did let it out of committee.
But when it came to the floor of the House
in final passage, she said, that is the worst bill she
had ever seen in the history of the Legislature. It
did pass – and we have a constitutional “Rainy
Day Fund”, but Helen thought it was the worst bill
she’d ever seen.
For someone who dedicates that amount of her
life to public service, she believed passionately in the
institution and in the process. I think that’s one of
the reasons she was so opposed to the “Rainy Day
Fund”, because it put something in the Constitution
limiting the discretion of the legislative body and,
that really offended her. She believed very much
in the institution and the discretion that the body
should be able to exercise.
When it was clear that Helen was getting ready
to retire, and that she would not seek reelection in
the 2008 election, there were a lot of people who felt
more comfortable giving her the credit she deserved,
and expressing their respect and admiration for her.
And watching her surprise at the outpouring of respect
and admiration for her, it was very refreshing
to see – very genuine on her part.
pg. 185
Victor Moore Biography
Victor is a 1979 graduate of California State
University, Sacramento. He began state service
in 1980 at The Evergreen State College. He then
worked for the Senate Ways and Means Committee
in 1983, and in 1984, moved to the Commission for
Vocational Education.
From 1986 to 1990, Victor served as a Senior
Budget Assistant to the governor at the Office
of Financial Management. In 1991, he accepted
the position of Staff Coordinator for the House
Appropriations Committee; hr remained in this
position until 2000. From 2000 through 2002, he
served as Director of Administration and Government
Relations at the Administrative Office of the
Courts. He returned to the House Appropriations
Committee in 2002 and served in this capacity until
January 2005.
In January 2005, Victor was appointed Director
of the Office of Financial Management by Governor
Chris Gregoire. In April of 2010, he moved to the
Washington State Investment Board as its Chief
Operating Officer.