In Our View: Re-elect Gregoire

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire has experienced, to say the least, four years of tense, anxiety-riddled public service. For the first five months of her term, no one was even sure she was the governor. Not until June 6, 2005 — when a Wenatchee judge declared she had won by a razor-thin 129 votes out of 2.9 million total votes — did that initial cloud of doubt dissipate.

Now Democrat Gregoire is engaged in another knock-down, drag-out against the same foe: Republican Dino Rossi. This time, though, she carries a new weapon: a four-year record as governor by which she is judged. That record reveals Gregoire to be a tough, no-nonsense, hard-working advocate, especially in the areas of public education and health care.

Gov. Gregoire has served well, particularly in matters affecting Clark County, and The Columbian today endorses her for reelection. Such was not our recommendation four years ago when we endorsed Rossi in a battle of two candidates who were seasoned politicians, but first-time applicants for the governor’s chair. Now, though, Gregoire is armed with a dossier that shows significant progress.

Rossi and other critics assail Gregoire most often in an area — the economy — where she actually shows strength and versatility. She helped turn an inherited $2.2 billion deficit into a balanced budget. And as the national economy erodes, Gregoire has hunkered down in the face of the state’s projected $3.2 billion deficit. In June, according to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, she halted a three-building project at the capital after costs increased from $260 million to $370 million. A new data center, space for the Department of Information Services and State Patrol offices will have to wait.

Yes, state spending has soared by about one-third during her term, but not at the governor’s unilateral direction; it is the Legislature that approves budgets. Gregoire argues that the increase is in vital areas, more than half of it in education.

Gregoire knows how to help Southwest Washington. Last November, within two weeks of extensive reporting in The Columbian about foot-dragging by the state Department of Ecology in cleaning up the old Alcoa waterfront site — plus a stern “Help us out, Chris” editorial — Gregoire ordered the DOE officials to get cracking, and they did.

Last month, within one hour of the Community Economic Revitalization Board abruptly withdrawing a $12.5 million grant it had mistakenly awarded Vancouver’s waterfront redevelopment project, Gregoire promised capital-budget funding for the project and vowed to expand the program to include Vancouver’s efforts.

The governor also has helped Clark County in the areas of international trade, the environment, transportation infrastructure and higher education.

Rossi is a capable, smart and thoroughly prepared opponent, one whose drumbeat attacks in a vicious campaign help hold Gregoire accountable. His service in the Legislature was stellar, notably in fiscal matters. Like Gregoire, he’s not afraid to disagree with his own party members and work with the opposing party. In fact, our opinion about his qualifications to serve as governor has not changed since that 2004 endorsement.

But our opinion about Gregoire has been changed by her four strong years as governor. When ballots are mailed on Oct. 15, vote for Chris Gregoire on the Nov. 4 ballot.