Gregoire among Governing magazine honorees

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire is on Governing magazine’s November cover, honored by the insiders’ national publication as one of the nation’s top public officials.

Gregoire, the only governor on the list of nine officials, is cited for her work on government accountability and her “negotiator-in-chief” style of dealing with tough problems. The magazine calls her a “deft and inclusive dealmaker” and says Gregoire runs one of the most open state governments in the country.

The magazine touted her Government Management Accountability and Performance Program, which tracks agencies’ progress on public safety, child abuse and other issues.

Gregoire said the magazine is honoring the idea that “government should be accountable, open and accessible to citizens.”

Democrat Gregoire, a former three-term attorney general, is running for re-election next year.