Secretary of Corrections named

OLYMPIA – Bernie Warner spent less than a week as Washington’s acting Secretary of Corrections.

After he was named to that position last Friday, Gov. Chris Gregoire took the “acting” out of the title and named him the permanent replacement for Eldon Vail.

Vail resigned last Friday as he faced the prospect that an affair he was having with a subordinate was going to become public.

Gregoire’s office announced she had appointed Warner to the job with a salary of $147,000, the same salary Vail received.

His appointment must be confirmed by the Senate, but that won’t happen before the Legislature returns to a session. Unless there’s another special session this year, the Legislature isn’t scheduled to meet until January.

Warner sent a memo to Department of Corrections employees, saying his goal was “to provide you with the high level of leadership you deserve.”

Vail told The Seattle Times he takes full responsibility for his actions, and is working on saving his marriage.