OLYMPIA -- The state's top "numbers guy," Office of Financial Management Director Victor Moore, will be leaving that job to take over as top operator at the State Investment Board.

Moore has served as head of OFM for five years, since Gov. Chris Gregoire first took office in January 2005. He's been a state official for 30 years, first as a budget officer with Evergreen State College in 1980, a budget analyst for Senate Ways and Means in 1983, and first worked for OFM in 1986 on transportation and capital construction. He served as staff coordinator for the House Appropriations Committee from 1991 through 2004.

Although not a well-known face outside of Olympia, he's highly regarded by members of both parties in the Capitol. Seldom in front of the cameras, he's usually close at hand during gubernatorial press conferences and briefings. At those times, when a detail question or a technical aspect of a budget or policy bill comes up, Gregoire will frequently look up and say "Victor." and have him give the answer.

He will become the job of chief operating officer of the State Investment Board after the session is over. Although this year and last have been particularly difficult budgets, with major cuts last year and an attempt to both cut and raise taxes this year, Moore said that wasn't a factor in his decision. Good years or bad, he said, the budget is always difficult.

Replacing Moore at OFM will be Gregoire's legislative director, Marty Brown, who was OFM director from 1999 through 2005.

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