Inslee appoints Doyle to building code council

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee announced on Tuesday he has appointed longtime building industry professional Daimon Doyle to the Washington State Building Code Council.

Doyle is a builder, Life Director for the National Association of Home Builders and a former president of the Building Industry Association of Washington, with 30 years of experience in residential construction and a specialty in environmentally efficient, green building, according to a press release from Inslee’s office.

According to the press release, Inslee appointed Doyle at the recommendation of the BIAW as part of a legal settlement between the state of Washington, the BIAW and the Associated General Contractors of Washington. The two organizations sued Inslee in late 2021, claiming the governor failed to follow state law in the way he appointed members to the state Building Code Council.

Current state law requires the governor to appoint two construction professionals — one representing residential construction and another commercial construction — nominated by the industry associations, according to an April 6 press release from the BIAW. The suit alleged Inslee failed to do that, and as part of the settlement, the two code council members Inslee nominated resigned and the governor’s office agreed to pay the BIAW $70,000 to cover costs, according to the press release.

“The (code council) makes important decisions that affect not only builders but hundreds of thousands of potential and existing homeowners across our state,” said BIAW Executive Vice President Greg Lane in the governor’s press release. “At a time when more than 85% of the state is priced out of purchasing homes, Washington can’t afford additional costs and increasing uncertainty.”

Doyle’s appointment “will bring credible common sense to the council at a time when it’s desperately needed,” Lane said.