Spokane community leaders are confused by Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire’s inconsistency regarding Spokane’s bid to host the 2009 International Figure Skating Championships.

Gregoire was enthusiastic about the idea when she was speaking in Spokane last October but not when she submitted her supplemental budget to the Legislature, which convened this week in Olympia.

Sure, said spokeswoman Holly Armstrong, the governor is glad to support the Spokane promoters’ bid to host what would be a major tourism draw, but “it wasn’t part of the targeted investments.”

On the surface, that would square with Gregoire’s advice to the lawmakers not to spend all of an expected $1.4 billion budget surplus. Save most of it for future needs, she has urged.

But the governor’s own comments in October stressed the potential for a substantial economic return to the state and community if Spokane were to land an elite international athletic event that customarily occurs in major cities of the world. After the 2001 world championships in Vancouver, B.C., an analysis showed an $81.6 million economic impact. With a prize like that, the $500,000 that promoters need to submit Spokane’s bid is modest. Their request to the governor also included $100,000 for promoting the 2007 national championships, but the $500,000 must be paid only if Spokane is selected. No selection, no cost.

“In order to win the bid, the entire state of Washington will be called upon to play host,” said a press release distributed by the governor’s office in October. “The objective now is to garner the necessary support required to submit a successful bid,” the governor had said in Spokane, noting that such an event would complement the tourism boom the state hopes to enjoy as a result of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in nearby Vancouver.

With the governor mysteriously out of the funding picture, backers of the application are now counting on the Legislature, where Spokane Sen. Lisa Brown is Senate majority leader, to see that an appropriation is in place by March 9 when the legislative session is scheduled to end.

Shortly after that, U.S. figure skating officials will visit Spokane. Evidence of broad support for the city’s application, to include a state funding commitment, is one of the things they’ll be looking for as they choose America’s candidate for host city to the world event.

Rare is the gubernatorial candidate in this state who doesn’t want to be governor of all of Washington. Gregoire expressed that sentiment when she was campaigning in 2004. She seemed to be reiterating the message with the words she spoke in October. Her actions aren’t as encouraging.