SEATTLE — There’s a new generation leading Washington’s ferries.
Forty-year-old Amy Scarton became director Feb. 1, bumping interim boss Elizabeth Kosa back to her No. 2 staff chief position. Kosa, 38, didn’t mind.
“I was extremely excited about Amy,” Kosa said of the replacement for Lynne Griffith, who retired at the end of January at age 67. “She brings new depth and knowledge to the ferry system. She’s multimodal and highly capable with government.”
Griffith, familiar with Scarton’s work atop the Department of Transportation’s Community and Economic Development Office, tabbed her for the post. The selection was supported by Transportation Secretary Roger Millar and Gov. Jay Inslee.
“She was hand-picked,” Kosa said. “We wanted her.”
Scarton was surprised because she had no maritime experience. She had been overseeing the department’s modal divisions.