Washington DSHS head Kevin Quigley to step down

The leader of Washington’s largest state agency told staff Tuesday he plans to step down, saying three years in the post is enough.

Kevin Quigley, secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services, said he would leave as soon as Gov. Jay Inslee can find a replacement.

Inslee appointed Quigley, a former state senator who also ran a shipyard in Everett, to the post when he took office as governor in 2013.

The agency runs child protective services, anti-poverty programs and a host of other services. It manages the state mental health system that in recent months has struggled to deal with court orders and federal scrutiny.

In the letter to staff, Quigley highlighted what he sees as successes at the agency, including recognition for the state’s long-term care program.

“People outside DSHS typically cannot begin to understand our challenges but the expectation they attach to you to solve every social ill, whether there is a funded social program or not, is perhaps the best evidence of the indispensable role you play in making our state a great place,” he wrote.

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 6:35 PM with the headline "Washington DSHS head Kevin Quigley to step down."