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June 14, 2011 in City
Gregoire: Two’s enough
Governor says she’ll focus on state recovery
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire and husband Mike Gregoire stand in front of the Governor’s Mansion Monday after the governor announced she won’t seek a third term.
(Full-size photo)
OLYMPIA – Chris Gregoire, who became governor of Washington in the midst of controversy and managed the state during some of its greatest economic adversity, said Monday she won’t seek a third term.
Instead, she said she’ll spend the next 18 months working to improve the economy, then take some time off.
“The worst thing that I can think of for the state of Washington is for me to be preoccupied with a campaign right now,” she said at a morning press conference in front of the Governor’s Mansion, where she was flanked by members of her family and had members of her Cabinet and senior advisers gathered on the driveway nearby. “We are going to make sure we pull this state out of this recession.”
She said she wanted to leave “on my terms, in my time” and go on to do something else after taking “a little break” and spending time with her family.
She said she’ll campaign for President Barack Obama in 2012. “That doesn’t mean I’m looking for a job,” she added. Several times in the last two years she was reported to be on the short list for different jobs in the Obama administration.
Her announcement – not a surprise but a confirmation of conventional wisdom – sets up the prospect of a race for governor next year between Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna and Democratic U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee of the Puget Sound area’s 1st Congressional District.
McKenna, the GOP’s favorite choice to break a 28-year hold on the office by Democrats, formally announced his campaign last week. Inslee, who has been positioning himself to run if Gregoire didn’t, is expected to announce his candidacy in the coming days.
Gregoire said she called Inslee on Sunday after making her decision and urged him to run. “I don’t know who all’s going to get in the field,” she added.
Before becoming governor, she spent 12 years as the state’s attorney general, three years as head of the Department of Ecology, and time before that as a deputy attorney general.
Gregoire became governor in 2005 after the closest, and arguably the most controversial, statewide race in history. Former state Sen. Dino Rossi was ahead by 261 votes after the first ballot count, but Democrats demanded a machine recount, which lowered Rossi’s margin to 42. They called for a hand-recount, which put Gregoire ahead by 129 votes. She was declared the winner and inaugurated. Republicans sued, but lost in a trial in Chelan County Superior Court, and Rossi dropped the appeal. They had a rematch in 2008, and Gregoire won by nearly 200,000 votes.
Her first term was marked by an increase in state revenues from a booming construction market, and increases in state spending. That was starting to slide by 2008, and while Rossi was warning of an unsustainable budget and looming deficits, Gregoire was pointing to a rainy day fund as a bulwark against a downturn.
The recession hit with a vengeance, and the last three legislative sessions were marked by wrenching cuts. Last year she supported a series of tax increases, some of which were overturned by voters in November.
Republicans said Gregoire will be remembered most for mishandling the recession. She allowed state spending and state employment to grow even when the recession “was known to be on the horizon,” said Alex Hays of the Mainstream Republicans, which has endorsed McKenna.
State GOP Chairman Kirby Wilbur said that while Gregoire can’t be blamed for a recession that was national in scope, she and Democrats who control the Legislature were responsible for state budgets “put together with baling wire, spit and duct tape” rather than necessary cuts, and requiring a special session this year to write a budget, he said.
That biennial budget for 2011-’13, which Gregoire is scheduled to sign Wednesday, was a bipartisan effort crafted in part by Senate Republicans. “It’s not a total disaster. But it’s not what it could be,” Wilbur said.
Democrats agreed that her tenure has been driven by difficult budget decisions, but argued that all states, and all governors, are struggling with the same problems. Blair Butterworth, a political adviser to Gregoire’s predecessor Gary Locke, said Republicans who claim they saw the recession clearly years ago were warning about deficits for so long it was the political equivalent of crying wolf.
“Nobody faced it soon enough. Nobody thought the downturn was going to be as bad,” Butterworth said. “By nature, elected officials want to see the good side of things … and we want them to represent the better side.”
Supermajority for taxes unconstitutional, judge rules 
Dazzeetrader11 on June 14 at 12:09 a.m.
She should have never had 1 term. The judge who decided her A”victory” the first time was a dem appointment. This Dem party in Wa St is corrupt. Nobody will complain if this lifelong miscreant of government is never heard from again. She did a pathetic and terrible job. Her whole life has been spend on the taxpayer’s dime. Nothing to show for it except a big pension. Did lots of damage. She should hide her head in shame.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on June 14 at 12:24 a.m.
Hmmm Dazzee…..a partisan court handed them victory, did a pathetic and terrible job, spent as much of the tax payers money as possible, has nothing to show for it but lots of damage.
Sounds like George Bush.
ericdx on June 14 at 1:05 a.m.
Shouldn’t the article say hat she MIS-MANAGED the state during some of its greatest economic adversity?
I think that she (and her handlers) realized that, while she could beat Dino Rossi (not a hard task) Rob McKenna would be someone she would not be able to beat.
I am quite certain that someone in her own party told her that she would not get full support if she ran, because they would rather see Inslee run against McKenna. Besides, she (and the Democrats) knew that they would have to use valuable resources to beat McKenna. Resources that would be needed for the general election, since extra outside money might not be available, because the Democrats need it for the Obamanation to try to get re-elected.
Either way, when you leave the Governor’s Mansion for the last time, Queen Christine, don’t let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya. Its just too bad that this is happeneing 4 years too late…
drywitt99 on June 14 at 1:20 a.m.
“…don’t let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya”
Teabagger eloquence from ericdx.
Orange on June 14 at 3:38 a.m.
And here we go with the name calling.
drywitt99 on June 14 at 3:44 a.m.
Speaketh Dazzee: “She should have never had 1 term.”
Sorry that democracy keeps getting in the way of your vision for Washington State.
Well….actually…..to be honest……no…..I’m not sorry at all.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!! (especially in the blue counties) :)
Diana on June 14 at 5:08 a.m.
I agree about the name calling. The teabagger didn’t have to refer to Governor Gregoire as “Queen Christine”. That was uncalled for.
drywitt99 on June 14 at 5:18 a.m.
Most eloquently expressed, Diana.
DHF on June 14 at 5:19 a.m.
Bail Out and leave the mess that you and your Democratic Liberals created with your tax and spend ways and spending more than you took in. It will take someone like Rob McKenna to get this mess straightened out. The Dem’s had your chance and all you managed to do was screw up the economy.
Byrdie714 on June 14 at 6:11 a.m.
WOW! I’m impressed with the individuals on this forum. You have a different opinion and automatically one is labeled, ‘tea-bagger.’
No matter how one labels Christine Gregoire, “Queen Christine,” “Commie Christine,” etc, etc, those defenders will always call one a ‘tea-bagger’ because of the sexual connatation of the name.
Time for the defenders to grow up and accept the fact that no one has to agree with you.
Of course—the defenders like to whine—sounds like Seattlites to me!
Diana on June 14 at 6:27 a.m.
Byrdie714, very funny!
I, for one, appreciate the irony in your post whether you do or not.
Ninch on June 14 at 6:33 a.m.
Rob McKenna is against Obamacare because it is unconstitutional. He will get a lot of traction on this especially from Independents.
Jay Inslee is left of left and I do not see how he will make the 2012 Governor race that competitive. Dems better hope some others jump in the race.
BTW: The GOP handpicked the judge (filed in Chelan County) to hear the first Gregoire/Rossi election dispute. It was a close race but far from rigged by the Dems.
rosehips on June 14 at 6:44 a.m.
I commend the governor for her announcement. I don’t think we’ve heard the end of Christine Gregoire. I think she may be headed for the national stage.
Providing_Buttonholes on June 14 at 7:15 a.m.
Phil Talmadge or Brian Sontagg… two that cant be bought… two that are not incompetent.
Shadedmuse on June 14 at 7:53 a.m.
Republican-Tea-bagger party is the most corrupt party, they have done nothing to help to the working man, 30 years of republican deregulation and tax cuts for the very wealthy and trade policy is why we are in the mess we are today. and watching the Freek show last night on CNN WMUR proves they have nothing to offer but more of the same old B.S.
Gov Gregoire has been the best govenor this state has ever had, if you want to know what mckenna will be like in the govenors office just look what is going on in Wisconsin Michigan Ohio and Florida.
D Statler on June 14 at 7:56 a.m.
And you believe that ROB McKENNA will represent the people’s best interest over big buisness’s ? Time once again to pick the lesser of two evils. It is sad that this is what our two party system has come to. Where is the good choice here going to come from? Very saddening situation :^( We would be better led by a person collecting money on a street corner.
Not the drug task force thugs passing out the dope for info on the corners either!
Dazzeetrader11 on June 14 at 8:21 a.m.
Undooly..he always has. He’s a very honest man. I like him. Not flashy but he is a conservative middle of the road choice. I hope he’s successful. Couldn’t do much worse than Gregoire. Out of money (by her own hand) and she continued to spend.
Just a nutty tax and spend incompetent woman.
johnclarke on June 14 at 9:35 a.m.
Sure Daisy, as opposed to the lower taxes/increase spending Republicans. That works out SO much better.
liberal_in_right_wing_land on June 14 at 10:37 a.m.
I do find the comments on here bashing Gregoire amusing like governments in the republican states all have balanced budgets and have a huge surplus. Even though the true fact is with this Great Depression states that are more democrat and controlled by democrats still are supporting these so called red states who take money from the government like its candy.
So yeah, Gregoire might have not been the best governor this state has seen, but sorry she is better than any republican governor in this country who says they hate the government but then when the cameras aren’t running they are happily taking money from this same government that they rail against to keep their state running.
SpokyDaBear on June 14 at 11:22 a.m.
She knew she could not get re-elected…
Typical democrat… Make a mess and then skip out before the check is brought to the table…
liberal_in_right_wing_land on June 14 at 11:39 a.m.
Spoky…..Come on, you really think these problems are happening only in Washington? You really think no republican states and governments have WORSE budgets than we do? Take a step out of your Fox News bubble and join the real world and do a little research and - as I just mentioned - you would see most red states are worse off then the blue states like Washington. It has been proven, even in todays horrible economy, that the blue states overwhelmingly support the red, republican controlled states.
Come on, just try using some COMMON SENSE.
Thayne on June 14 at 11:39 a.m.
Well the fact that dizzee likes McKenna means I will be voting for whoever is opposing him. I think it’s a riot that dazzee is accusing the dems of fixing Gregoire’s election. Dubya stole the first election thanks to Harris in Florida. Recently there was a Wisconsin county clerk who “found” 14,000 votes on her personal computer using homemade voting software, and surprise the beneficiary was a tea party candidate! It’s interesting how now teabaggers don’t like the name - even though they picked it!
MrNatural on June 14 at 11:45 a.m.
Thank you very much Governor Gregoire for your principled and effective management of the State of Washington. In my opinion you will be remembered as a great public servant.
Julia70 on June 14 at 11:59 a.m.
If you don’t like Gregoire move to Idaho, I’m sure they will always have a right winger, I’m for the rich and to hell with the poor, governor. Oh this should make you really happy, I heard one republican talk about resurrecting Tim McVeigh and runnin’ him for Gov. Now that’s hate you can believe in. So rent you a U-Haul and come on over
Diana on June 14 at 12:50 p.m.
“Typical democrat… Make a mess and then skip out before the check is brought to the table…”
George W Bush is not a Democrat.
SMARTGUY on June 14 at 12:53 p.m.
Whats bad for our state was good for our country I guess. They blame chris for turning a surplus into a deficit but reelected bush for doing the very same thing. Oh I forgot Gregoire used the money for teachers and healthcare while bush used the money for tax cuts for the top 1%, thats the difference.
philipgregory on June 14 at 12:55 p.m.
Maybe her dismal 25% approval rating had something to do with her deciding to ‘take a little break’… instead of being fired.
Orange on June 14 at 1:27 p.m.
Spoke d’alene at its best here.
leekinny on June 14 at 3:06 p.m.
The winy tea party controlled Republicans had to make a showing. It’s all they got because the race to the right is a race to extremism and failure.
LISA BROWN is where it’s at.
Dazzeetrader11 on June 14 at 4:46 p.m.
We also had a couple of wars due to being attacked and all that SMARTASS……..nice subhuman name by the way. Gregoire did her mischief electively. President was defending us and giving a little payback for 3000 murders….not quite the same.
Get a brain in that head son. It helps.
SMARTGUY on June 14 at 5:07 p.m.
If only we had attacked the right country, and found any weapons of mass destruction instead of oil contracts I could agree
Diana on June 14 at 6:23 p.m.
What payback for 3000 murders? He invaded the wrong country. The big payback was when our Commander in Chief gave the order to take down OBL.
Pickled brain, Daisy.
misjustice on June 14 at 7:57 p.m.
Dazzee meant to say, “big payday” for 3000 murders; the cronies of the Cheney Crime Administration really cleaned up in Iraq, what with all those no-bid contracts and all!
Funny, Dazzee hates life long gubmint workers but she sure loves her some McKenna; all that he has done is work in gubmint…
I still hope that DiNO!, the 3 time LOSER, decides to challenge McKenna for the GOP nomination. I’d love to see McKenna have to fight for it!
Just sayin’…
; )
greenlibertarian on June 14 at 8:58 p.m.
It gets better, MissJ, Rossi will run on a third party teabagger ticket, thus guaranteeing whoever the Dems put up, likely Inslee will be elected easily.
McKenna, c’mon, until he jumped on that health care lawsuit bandwagon, in anticipation of running, that guy was as middle of the road Republican as they come.
He could have got elected, but pandering to the teabaggers in WA ain’t gonna help him.