Gov. Bob Ferguson’s first month in office has been conducted more out of public view than those of his recent predecessors.
While the Democrat took to the podium for a news conference Thursday to respond to a barrage of executive actions by President Donald Trump, he has yet to engage in regular sessions with the press. He’s also been slow thus far to share his schedules with the media; behind the scenes, his administration is also tightening the reins on how state agencies communicate with journalists and residents alike.
Yet to be determined is whether this is a nose-to-the-grindstone new governor working to balance a state budget and respond to a chaotic presidency — or indication of an administration that will be less transparent than the ones that came before.
In setting his expectations for state agencies, Ferguson is all but certain to exercise a greater role within them than former Gov. Jay Inslee did.
For instance, the former attorney general promised during the campaign to move his office for a week to Western State Hospital, the state’s challenged main psychiatric facility. If he sets a new level of hands-on management, he should also expect to have more questions from the media as a result.
Ferguson has continued to stay mum on how state agencies will meet his goal of a 6 percent across-the-board cut to help corral spending. Tana Senn, Ferguson’s secretary of the Department of Children, Youth and Families, told Inside Olympia’s Austin Jenkins this week that she could not yet discuss cuts because they’re “under wraps with the governor’s office.”
Ferguson confirmed Thursday that he will unveil his budget plan during a news conference later this month.
Ferguson’s office is also tightening the screws on state government communications strategy, unveiled in a guidance memo this month obtained and shared on social media by Dale Whitaker, a former Republican candidate for secretary of state.
The memo stated all Cabinet-level leaders and staff should consult the governor’s office about scheduled interviews with national media, as well as the state’s broadcast stations and The Seattle Times. It also included this unrealistic demand: “All news releases must be sent to the Governor’s Office communications team for review at least 48 hours ahead of the anticipated release date.”
In an email, Brionna Aho, Ferguson’s communications director, clarified that the guidance was “not meant to delay time-sensitive releases, particularly where public safety is concerned.”
“I’ve been in regular communication with the agencies, and will update them to ensure everyone is clear on this. My understanding is that they are,” she wrote.
Ferguson has every right to rein in state agencies and synchronize their communications with the public to meet his expectations. The buck stops with the governor, after all.
But journalists and interested residents are eager to know his thoughts on how the Legislature can balance the budget and what role Ferguson is playing in those deliberations, as well as initiatives he talked up during his Jan. 15 inaugural address.
As he did Thursday, Ferguson should also continue to respond regularly to Trump’s near-constant barrage of executive orders, which impact state residents and the flow of federal funding here.
This long legislative session is an opportune time for a new governor to weigh in on bills and priorities. He has earned that chance. It’s time for him to more prominently display his leadership.
