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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Gregoire chosen for Avista post-sale board of directors

Gov. Chris Gregoire speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in her office Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2012, in Olympia. (Elaine Thompson / AP)

Former Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire would sit on Avista Corp.’s board of directors if the company is sold to a Canadian utility.

Avista and Hydro One Ltd. released their choices for five independent representatives to the nine-member board Wednesday. All five have ties to the Northwest, the companies said.

Avista would become a subsidiary of Hydro One after the sale. Company officials have touted the board’s makeup as a way to ensure Avista’s operations would continue to be led with a Northwest perspective after the sale.

Besides Gregoire, who is a Gonzaga University Law School graduate, the other independent board members would be:

Marc Racicot, a former Montana governor and current Avista board member.

Scott Maw, Starbuck’s executive vice president and chief financial officer. He’s also a current Avista board member and a graduate of Deer Park High School and Gonzaga University.

Kristianne Blake, a lifelong Spokane resident and president of the accounting firm Kristianne Gates Blake. She’s currently on Avista’s board.

Donald Burke, a current Avista board member and former executive for BlackRock, a global investment management corporation.

“The selection of these independent board members is a vital step in affirming that we will have strong leadership in place … once the transaction closes,” Avista Chairman and CEO Scott Morris said in a news release.

The four remaining directors on the board would be Morris, Avista President Dennis Vermillion, the CEO of Hydro One and another senior Hydro One executive.

The proposed sale is still under review by public utility commissions in Washington, Idaho and Oregon.