Region’s Democrats like what new governor has to say, but Republicans have their doubts

Democrats were wildly enthusiastic about Gov. Christine Gregoire’s inaugural address, while Republicans sat through much of it in stonily polite silence.

Here are some of the reactions from local legislators in the chamber for the speech:

“We were being respectful of the office of governor, but we have very obvious and important questions of her validity (as governor),” said Rep. Lynn Schindler, a Spokane Valley Republican who said it was difficult to sit in the chamber when “I don’t think she is my governor.”

Schindler said she’s getting an unusually large number of calls, letters and e-mails from Spokane residents who are upset over the election, because “people suspect something is wrong.”

“It’s one thing to lose an election, even if it’s a close one, but you’re secure in the fact that the (elections officials) did the best they could do.”

That’s not possible, Schindler said, with reports of ballots cast for people who have died, felons voting and provisional ballots being cast without signatures being verified.

She said she was not impressed with Gregoire’s call for election reform or voicing support for free elections in Iraq when Washington state has so many reported election problems.

But Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, said he thought Gregoire was reaching out in her speech.

“Regardless of the outcome of the court challenge, at this point in time, this is our governor,” Ormsby said. “We have a collective fate, and where we end up depends on our willingness to work together.”

The state’s political divide is not as great as some people are saying, he added. “It’s like a windstorm on the Palouse – a little goes a long way.”

Rep. John Serben, a freshman Republican from Spokane, said Gregoire talked of many of the same things as her predecessor Gary Locke, such as education improvements, tax breaks and more efficient government.

“I have great hope that she follows through, but little faith,” Serben said. He was part of the “honor guard” escorting Gregoire to the dais but sat through much of the speech in what he described as respectful silence.

Rep. Alex Wood, a Spokane Democrat starting his fifth term, said he’s encouraged by Gregoire’s experience in Olympia.

“Since she was attorney general, she knows the place, she knows the people. But this is much more political. You’re a salesman now,” he said.

As far as experience, though, the state was in a “no-lose” situation in the governor’s race. He added, “Both Christine Gregoire and Dino Rossi were pragmatic and work well with either party.”

Sen. Mark Schoesler, a 12-year legislative veteran from Ritzville, complained that much of Gregoire’s speech lacked substance, and wondered how she plans to pay for her more ambitious proposals in difficult budget times.

” ‘We have work to do’ is kind of a campaign mantra,” he said.

Schoesler said he also is hearing from constituents who are leaning “very, very heavily towards a revote.” Many are people who don’t regularly contact him on legislative matters, he said.

Schoesler agrees there should be a new election for governor and said he doesn’t think that would create a problem for legislators at this point in the session. New legislation is just beginning to work its way through a lengthy process of hearings and votes in both houses of the Legislature.

“You don’t need a governor for most of these things until you need a signature, and that’s usually late in the session,” Schoesler said.