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Christine Gregoire

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Christine Gregoire
22nd Governor of Washington
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 12, 2005
LieutenantBrad Owen
Preceded byGary Locke
16th Attorney General of Washington
In office
1993-2005
GovernorMike Lowry
Gary Locke
Preceded byKen Eikenberry
Succeeded byRob McKenna
Personal details
Born (1947-03-24) March 24, 1947 (age 77)
Adrian, Michigan
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMike Gregoire
ChildrenCourtney Gregoire
Michelle Gregoire
ResidenceLacey, Washington
Alma materUniversity of Washington (B.A.), Gonzaga University (J.D.)
ProfessionAttorney / Politician
Websitewww.chrisgregoire.com

Christine O'Grady "Chris" Gregoire (born March 24, 1947) is the current Governor and former Attorney General of the state of Washington, and a member of the Democratic Party. Gregoire defeated Republican candidate Dino Rossi in 2004 and again in the 2008 gubernatorial election. She is the second female governor of Washington, and the first to win re-election.

Pre-Gubernatorial Life

Chris O’Grady was raised in Auburn, Washington, by her mother, who worked as a short-order cook to support the family. She rode horses and picked picked blueberries. After graduating from Auburn Senior High School,[1] she attended the University of Washington in Seattle, graduating in 1969. She attended law school at Gonzaga University in Spokane, graduating in 1977.

She went to work as an assistant attorney general in the office of state Attorney General Slade Gorton, a Republican.[2] As an assistant attorney general, Gregoire concentrated on child-abuse cases, coordinating with social workers to get children removed from abusive family situations and placed with relatives or foster homes. Gregoire's first child, Courtney, was born in Spokane in 1979. Their second daughter, Michelle, was born in 1984.[3] Michelle plays soccer for Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, and Governor Gregoire is proud to call herself a 'soccer mum'. She is a season ticket holder for Sounders FC.[4]

When not in Olympia, Gregoire lives in the nearby suburb of Lacey with her husband Mike; the couple also spends part of most summers at a cabin on the shores of Hayden Lake, Idaho that the family bought in 1979. Their two kids, Michelle and Courtney, are both graduates of Olympia High School in Olympia, Washington.[3]

In 2003, she was diagnosed with breast cancer in an early stage after a routine check-up and a mammogram. She had surgery and recovered to good health. She mentions her fight with cancer in speeches about health care.[5]

2004 Gubernatorial Election

Main article: Washington gubernatorial election, 2004

Gregoire defeated Ron Sims and four other minor candidates in the primary election on September 14, 2004. She had come under fire during the primary for her membership in Kappa Delta and for that sorority's nonwhite membership policy in the late 1960s.[6] She clashed with Sims over her position at the sorority and Sims later dropped the issue and dismissed any claims of racism.[7] Sims campaigned on the need for tax reform and the institution of a statewide income tax.[8] Gregoire won the primary with over 60% of the vote.[9]

During the general election against former state senator and real estate agent Dino Rossi, Gregoire proposed a major initiative in life sciences, especially stem cell research.[10] In debates, Gregoire tried to counter voter unease about the state government by saying she would "blow past the bureaucracy" and bring change herself.[11] With a focus on change, but with little detail on specifics, many state Democratic leaders expressed concerns about the kind of leader Gregoire would be.[12] Gregoire would win the backing of the Legislature within six months after pushing through a number of important measures on car emission standards and unemployment benefits.[12]

The election was held on November 2, 2004, with the initial count showing Gregoire trailing Rossi by 261 votes. However, a legally mandated machine recount reduced that lead to only 42 votes, then a hand count that was requested and funded by the state's Democratic Party gave Gregoire a 10-vote lead. Following a State Supreme Court ruling that allowed several hundred ballots from King County to be included, her lead was further increased to 130 votes[13], but when the vote was certified by the state's Secretary of State, Sam Reed, at the end of December, one vote which had been counted in Thurston County past the deadline was disqualified and her lead was reduced to 129 votes.[14] Washington's Republican leadership then filed suit, claiming that hundreds of votes, including votes by felons,[15] deceased voters,[16] and double voters,[16] were included in the canvass, but on June 6, 2005, Judge John E. Bridges ruled that the Republican party did not provide enough evidence that the disputed votes were ineligible—or for whom they were cast—to overturn the election.[17] Judge Bridges did note that there was evidence that 1,678 votes had been illegally cast throughout the state,[18] but found that the only evidence submitted to show how those votes had been cast were sworn statements from four felons that they had voted for Rossi.[18] He subtracted those four votes from Rossi's total and upheld the election.[19]

Fundraising

On October 28, 2004, the Seattle Times reported that out-of-state donors were contributing heavily to Gregoire's campaign coffers.[20] More than one million dollars were given to the Democratic Governor's Association from trial lawyers who worked closely with Gregoire on the 1998 tobacco settlement.[20] According to the Seattle Times' analysis, nearly half of Gregoire's 2004 campaign contributions came from out-of-state.[20]

Washington Governor

2005 legislative session

The first legislative session ended with Gregoire brokering new bipartisan transportation legislation.[21] The package included a 9.5-cent-a-gallon gas-tax increase to help repair many roads in Washington, particularly around Seattle area, such as the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Interstate 405, and the Route 520 bridge.[22] The bill was initially blocked by Republican leadership in the Legislature and when it came to a vote in the House on the morning of the last day of the 2005 session, it was blocked again in a procedural vote.[23] After extensive lobbying from Governor Gregoire, House Democratic and Republican leadership met and agreed to let the measure come up for a vote.[23] It cleared the House shortly thereafter and was swiftly passed by the state Senate.[23] Gregoire signed it into law later that week.[24]

The tax package was met with mixed reviews. While she was praised widely by Democratic and Republican leaders of the House and Senate for her leadership skills regarding passing this deal,[24] several state legislators disagreed with the merits of the tax because of the already high price of gas.[25] An initiative to repeal the tax, Measure No. 912, was a part of the November 2005 ballot, but was rejected by the voters.[26]

2006 legislative session

Gregoire's agenda for the 2006 legislative session included implementing education reforms, including early childhood education programs and using international standards for math and science.[27] She also lobbied for a constitutional amendment to make a school levy approval contingent on a majority of voter support, rather than a 60% super-majority. The amendment got the necessary 2/3 vote in the state congress, but ultimately the state voters rejected the amendment.[27] Governor Gregoire spearheaded the effort to set aside a portion of the state's $1.4 billion surplus for a rainy day fund .[27][28]

On March 28, 2006, Gov. Christine Gregoire signed a bill to add prohibitions to the Gambling Act and the State Lottery to prohibit online gambling in the state.[29]

A landmark gay civil rights bill failed in the 2005 session but subsequently passed in the 2006 session. It was primarily responsible for expanding the scope of protected classes to include sexual orientation and gender identity in cases of discrimination. The bill was signed by Gregoire on January 31, 2006.

2007 legislative session

Gregoire (center), stands with Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels (left) and US Senator for Illinois Barack Obama (right) at a rally for Obama's presidential campaign at Key Arena on February 8, 2008.

In October 2005, Gregoire sent a letter to the state's Gambling Commission recommending that it renegotiate a compact with the Spokane Native American tribe it had submitted for approval. The original compact would have allowed the tribe and any other tribe that signed on to the compact to have off-reservation gambling facilities, increase the number of slot machines allowed to 7,500, operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, removed betting limits for some card players, and give credits to high rollers in exchange for sharing the profits from gambling with state and local governments.[30] It was opposed by many of the state's lawmakers of both parties and by anti-gambling groups that were concerned about the spread of gambling across the state as well as other Native American tribes.[30] The renegotiated compact, which was signed by the Spokane and 26 other Washington tribes, was signed by Gregoire in early 2007 and eliminated the revenue sharing and off-reservation facilities, but included an increase of allowed slot machines to 4,700 with a limit of 2,000 per location, increased the betting limit of some of its slot machines to $20, and allowed high-stakes gambling on blackjack and poker tables to players that pass financial screening and aren't known problem gamblers. The tribe also agreed to donate 2 percent of the gross revenue from table games and 1 percent from gambling devices to charity.[31]

Governor Gregoire signed a law on April 21, 2007 granting same-sex couples domestic partnership rights.

Following a ruling by the state's supreme court that a 1% property tax cap voted into law via initiative was unconstitutional, Gregoire ordered a special session to reinstate the cap. In the days leading up to the special session Gregoire and the Democrats were accused by liberals that they were caving in to Tim Eyman, the person that submitted the property tax initiative, and rushing the legislative process to reinstate the cap but not making other, more meaningful, property tax reform.[32]

2008 re-election campaign

Main article: Washington gubernatorial election, 2008

During the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries, Governor Gregoire was heavily lobbied by both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for her endorsement as a superdelegate.[33] Gregoire officially endorsed Barack Obama on February 8, 2008, hours before an event at Key Arena in Seattle, Washington where she introduced Senator Obama before a crowd of 18,000 people.[33][34] The Washington caucuses were held the next day with Obama beating Clinton in every county in the state.[35]

Gregoire at a campaign stop in August 2008

Governor Gregoire began her re-election campaign at her late mother's former employer, the Rainbow Café in Auburn, Washington, on April 7, 2008.[36][37][38] Immediately after her announcement, Gregoire began a biodiesel bus tour of the State of Washington.[36] Her opponent in the race, Dino Rossi, had announced his candidacy in October 2007.[39]

Both Gregoire and her opponent fast approached fundraising records early in their campaigns.[40] In April, Governor Gregoire hosted a fundraiser with Bill Richardson at the Seattle Westin which net the campaign over $300,000.[41][42] Later, in July, Gregoire held another large fundraiser with Michelle Obama at the WaMu Theater with 1,600 attendees raising over $400,000.[43][44]

The Seattle Times later reported that Gregoire gave cost of living increases to state employees who had received no raises in "many years," and funded voter-approved initiatives to raise the pay of teachers, all groups that gave money to fund her 2004 recount campaign.[45]

Gregoire won Washington's first ever top two primary on August 19, 2008 with 49%.[46] She advanced to the general election against Dino Rossi.[46][47] The general election on November 4 was expected to be close, but Gregoire benefited from a large turnout among Democrats to vote for Barack Obama in the United States Presidential election and ended up defeating Rossi 53% to 47%. There was a marked geographical split in the 2008 election: the more populous and Democratic-leaning Western Washington counties supported Gregoire, whilst the less populous and more Republican-leaning Eastern Washington counties supported Rossi.[48]

Union Lawsuits

Before the start of the 2009 legislative session, four separate unions representing state workers filed lawsuits against the governor for suggesting that the workers' pay raises be dropped as part of addressing the looming state budget deficit.[49][50]

Awards and Honors

In 2009, the Governor became the recipient of a sort of tongue-in-cheek Fuse "Fizzle" Award. The awards program is aimed at promoting leadership and accountability in the Washington State Legislature. [51]

References

  1. ^ http://www.governor.wa.gov/about/default.asp
  2. ^ Joni Balter (1999-03-07). "Gregoire Ponders Leap Into Year Of The Woman 2000". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  3. ^ a b "About Governor Chris Gregoire". Washington State Office of the Governor. 2006. Retrieved 2006-06-08.
  4. ^ Prost Amerika (2009-03-05). "Gregoire Speaks to Prost Amerika". Prost Amerika. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
  5. ^ Jean Enerson (2007-10-28). "Gov. Gregoire's personal battle". KING 5. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  6. ^ Ralph Thomas (2004-08-23). "Gubernatorial candidate Gregoire faced racial dilemma in college". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  7. ^ "Gregoire lashes out at Sims over all-white sorority story". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 2004-08-26. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  8. ^ Angela Galloway (2004-06-29). "Sims runs in primary on dreaded 'T' word". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  9. ^ Angela Galloway (2004-09-15). "Gregoire vs. Rossi for governor". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  10. ^ Jennifer Sullivan (2004-10-09). "Democrats tout stem-cell research". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  11. ^ Ralph Thomas (2004-10-13). "Gregoire, Rossi debate in Yakima". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  12. ^ a b Ralph Thomas (2005-05-01). "What Governor Gregoire said - and did". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  13. ^ Elaine Thompson (The Associated Press) (2004-12-23). "Democrat wins hand recount in Wash. governor race". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  14. ^ Ralph Thomas (2004-12-30). "Gregoire declared governor-elect, but Rossi wants new vote". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  15. ^ David Postman (2005-01-29). "Republicans say they've found 249 more felons who voted". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  16. ^ a b David Postman (2005-01-27). "GOP says it found 300 illegal votes". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  17. ^ Sharon Altaras (2005-06-06). "Judge upholds Gregoire's election". Wenatchee World. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  18. ^ a b Sharon Altaras (2005-06-07). "Dems ecstatic, judge back to business as usual". Wenatchee World. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  19. ^ Amy Argetsinger (2005-06-07). "Judge Upholds Win For Wash. Governor". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  20. ^ a b c Ralph Thomas (2004-10-28). "Out-of-state donors feed Gregoire fund". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  21. ^ Chris McGann (2005-05-07). "Gregoire: First the victory, now the triumphs]". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  22. ^ Rebecca Cook (The Associated Press) (2005-05-09). "Governor signs gas tax increase, transportation package". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  23. ^ a b c Ralph Thomas (2005-04-25). "Gas tax is going up". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ a b David Broder (2005-05-12). "Gregoire channels Bush". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  25. ^ David Ammons (The Associated Press) (2005-04-24). "Second time's a charm: House passes gas tax hike". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  26. ^ Andrew Garber (2005-11-10). "Gas tax stays, but don't expect big road projects to get going soon". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  27. ^ a b c Weekday, program on November 20, 2006, KUOW-FM radio.
  28. ^ Floyd McKay (2006-03-22). "Will public reward Dems for a productive session?". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-22.
  29. ^ Sam Skolnik (2006-05-27). "Time for gamblers to fold". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-08-22. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ a b Joseph Turner (2005-10-28). "Governor says no to expanded tribal gambling". The News Tribune. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  31. ^ Nicholas Geranios (2006-12-29). "Spokanes, state, U.S. reach gambling deal". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
  32. ^ Ralph Thomas (2007-11-30). "Shouting, name-calling as lawmakers cap property taxes". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2007-11-30. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ a b David Ammons (The Associated Press) (2008-02-08). "Gregoire endorses Obama for president". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  34. ^ Ralph Thomas (2008-02-08). "Seattle's KeyArena jammed for Barack Obama". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  35. ^ David Postman (2008-02-10). "Obama beats Clinton 2-1; McCain edges Huckabee". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  36. ^ a b David Ammons (The Associated Press) (2008-04-07). "Gregoire kicks off re-election bid". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  37. ^ David Ammons (The Associated Press) (2008-04-07). of Washingtonrace3rdldwritethru.html "WA Gov. Gregoire kicks off re-election bid". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  38. ^ "Governor Gregoire Addresses the Food Safety Conference". Office of the Governor. 2008-04-11. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  39. ^ Ralph Thomas (2007-10-25). "Rossi announces bid for governor". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  40. ^ Ralph Thomas (2008-04-12). "Rossi, Gregoire raising money for governor's race at record clip". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  41. ^ Curt Woodward (The Associated Press) (2008-04-28). "Gregoire gets fundraising help from Richardson". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-21.
  42. ^ Gregory Roberts (2008-04-28). "Bill Richardson boosts Chris Gregoire's campaign". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  43. ^ David Postman (2008-07-18). "Michelle Obama brings change message to Seattle fundraiser". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-26. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  44. ^ Curt Woodward (The Associated Press) (2008-07-31). "Governor's race close again– in money". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  45. ^ Ralph Thomas (2008-06-24). "When Gregoire won, so did her donors". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  46. ^ a b Ralph Thomas (2008-08-20). "Gregoire vs. Rossi: After top-two primary, real rumble begins". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  47. ^ "August 19, 2008 Top Two Primary". Washington Secretary of State's Office. 2008-08-20. Retrieved 2008-08-20.
  48. ^ McGann, Chris (2008-11-05). "Gregoire triumphs as close race fails to materialize". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
  49. ^ "Fourth union sues Gregoire over contract money". The Associated Press. The Seattle Times. 2009-01-15. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  50. ^ "State workers sue Gregoire over canceled raises". The Associated Press. Seattle Post Intelligencer. 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2008-01-21.
  51. ^ "Pushme-Pullyu" Award

Approval rating

Gregoire began office with low approval ratings, however, her popularity steadily improved and peaked at around 50% approval according to polling by Survey USA,[1] the latest taken in March 2009 showed her rating at 36%, with 57% disapproving of her performance as governor.[2]

Electoral history

Washington Attorney General Election 1992[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Christine Gregoire 1,190,784 54.88
Republican Norm Maleng 946,946 43.64
Populist Homer L. Brand 32,124 1.48
Washington Attorney General Election 1996[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Christine Gregoire 1,020,563 61
Republican Richard Pope 581,895 35
Libertarian Richard Shepard 46,376 3
Washington Attorney General Election 2000[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Christine Gregoire 920,552 56
Republican Richard Pope 636,738 38
Libertarian Richard Shepard 64,824 4
Washington Gubernatorial Election 2004
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Christine Gregoire 1,373,361 48.8730
Republican Dino Rossi 1,373,228 48.8683
Libertarian Ruth Bennett 63,465 2.2585
Washington Gubernatorial Election 2008[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Christine Gregoire 1,518,245 53.20
Republican Dino Rossi 1,335,490 46.80

Electoral History References

  1. ^ "WA Gov". SurveyUSA. Retrieved 2007-10-29.
  2. ^ "Results of SurveyUSA News Poll #13921". SurveyUSA. 2008-06-02. Retrieved 2008-08-14.
  3. ^ "Election Search Results". Washington Secretary of State. 2008-10-03. Retrieved 2008-10-03.
  4. ^ "Election results". The Seattle Times. 1996-11-06. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  5. ^ "Election Results". The Seattle Times. 2000-11-08. Retrieved 2008-08-08.
  6. ^ "November 4, 2008 General Election". Washington Secretary of State. Retrieved 2008-11-13.

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Preceded by Attorney General of Washington State
1993–2005 		Succeeded by
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