Suzan DelBene, an unsuccessful candidate against US Rep. Dave Reichert who spent more than $2 million of her own money on the race, has been appointed by Gov. Chris Gregoire to head the state Department of Revenue, which has been charged with simplifying the state's tax code.

In a statement, Gregoire said, "Suzan’s background with both large and small businesses will be an asset as the Department of Revenue works to simplify the tax code and reduce costs for businesses,” said Gregoire. “Suzan knows firsthand how the tax system impacts businesses and possesses the skills and vision to lead the agency through this transformation.”