Kreidler recovering from planned heart surgery

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler is recovering after successful heart surgery.

 Kreidler�s doctors had been monitoring his heart status over the past several months, leading to the scheduled bypass and valve-replacement surgery, performed Monday at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia.

�The commissioner was upbeat and confident about the operation,� said Sandi Peck, Deputy Insurance Commissioner for Public Affairs. �He called our office this morning, and he sounds as if he�s well on the road to recovery. As a staunch advocate for health care reform, he�s definitely looking forward to getting back to work.�

During Kreidler�s recovery, Acting Chief Deputy Deb McCurley will be handling the commissioner�s duties. McCurley has been the deputy insurance commissioner for operations since 2006.

�The consumers we serve and industry professionals we regulate shouldn�t notice any changes,� said McCurley. �We have a dedicated, professional staff, many of whom have long experience dealing with insurance.�

Kreidler, 69, was re-elected to a fourth four-year term in November 2012. He is a former member of Congress, state lawmaker and doctor of optometry.