OLYMPIA -- As Gov. Jay Inslee moves into 2016 and a re-election campaign, his gubernatorial office announced a pair of major changes Wednesday morning. 

Joby Shimomura, who has been with Inslee for nearly 20 years, has managed several campaigns and currently serves as his chief of staff, is stepping down at the beginning of the year "to resume her work as a glass artist," the office announced in a press release.

Inslee praised Shimomura for work on marriage equality, income equality and the fight against carbon pollution, adding "I wish her the best as she enjoys some much-deserved time back in her studio with her art."

Taking Shimomura's place as c-of-s will be David Postman, who has been executive director of communications since Inslee took office in 2013, when he moved over from a job with Vulcan Inc, a Paul Allen enterprise. Before that, Postman was a newspaper reporter in Washington, Alaska and Oregon, with his last 14 years as an "ink-stained wretch" served at The Seattle Times, much of that in an office about a block away from the domed building that house the governor's office and the legislative chambers.

Moving up into Postman's old job in the governor's office will be Jaime Smith, currently the deputy director of communications, who was also Inslee's press spokeswoman in the 2012 campaign.