Christine Gregoire
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| Christine Gregoire | |
|---|---|
| Name | Christine Gregoire |
| Caption | Gregoire in 2010 |
| Order | 22nd |
| Office | Governor of Washington |
| Lieutenant | Brad Owen |
| Term start | January 12, 2005 |
| Term end | January 16, 2013 |
| Predecessor | Gary Locke |
| Successor | Jay Inslee |
| Office1 | 16th Attorney General of Washington |
| Governor1 | Mike Lowry, Gary Locke |
| Term start1 | January 13, 1993 |
| Term end1 | January 12, 2005 |
| Predecessor1 | Ken Eikenberry |
| Successor1 | Rob McKenna |
| Office2 | Director of the Washington State Department of Ecology |
| Governor2 | Booth Gardner |
| Term start2 | 1988 |
| Term end2 | 1992 |
| Predecessor2 | Mike Burgess |
| Successor2 | Mary Riveland |
| Birth name | Christine O'Grady |
| Birth date | 24 March 1947 |
| Birth place | Adrian, Michigan, U.S. |
| Party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Mike Gregoire, 1969 |
| Education | University of Washington (BA), Gonzaga University (JD) |
Christine Gregoire served as the 22nd Governor of Washington from 2005 to 2013, following a distinguished tenure as the state's Attorney General. A member of the Democratic Party, her administration was marked by significant investments in education, major transportation initiatives, and navigating the Great Recession. Her career in public service also included leadership roles in environmental regulation and complex litigation against the tobacco industry.
Early life and education
Born in Adrian, Michigan, she moved with her family to Auburn, Washington as a child. She attended Auburn Senior High School before enrolling at the University of Washington, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in sociology and speech. She subsequently worked for a period as a paralegal before pursuing a Juris Doctor degree from the Gonzaga University School of Law, graduating with honors in 1977.
Legal career
Admitted to the Washington State Bar Association, she began her legal career as an assistant attorney general in the office of Washington Attorney General Slade Gorton. She specialized in environmental law and served as a senior attorney for the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services. Her expertise led to her appointment by Governor Booth Gardner as the director of the Washington State Department of Ecology in 1988, where she oversaw state efforts on issues like hazardous waste and the Clean Water Act.
Political career
In 1992, she was elected as the Attorney General of Washington, becoming the first woman to hold that office. She was re-elected in 1996 and 2000. As attorney general, she gained national prominence for her pivotal role as a lead negotiator in the landmark Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement of 1998. Her office also pursued significant litigation against Monsanto regarding PCB contamination and advocated for consumer protection and internet privacy laws.
Governor of Washington
Elected governor in 2004 after a historically close race and a subsequent manual recount against Republican Dino Rossi, she took office in January 2005. Her first term focused on economic development and she successfully championed a multi-billion dollar transportation package. Re-elected in 2008, her second term was dominated by managing severe budget shortfalls during the Great Recession. Key achievements included establishing the Life Sciences Discovery Fund, securing funding for the State Route 520 bridge replacement, and signing legislation that made Washington one of the first states to legalize same-sex marriage via popular vote in 2012.
Post-gubernatorial career
After leaving the Washington State Capitol, she served as the executive director of the National Governors Association from 2013 to 2014. In 2017, she was appointed to the University of Washington Board of Regents by Governor Jay Inslee. She has also served as a co-chair of the Cascadia Innovation Corridor initiative and on the board of directors for organizations like Equal Rights Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
Personal life
She married Mike Gregoire in 1969, whom she met while both were students at the University of Washington. The couple has two adult daughters. Her personal and family life was notably impacted when her husband received a kidney transplant in 2000 from a living donor, an experience that informed her advocacy for organ donation. She is a resident of Olympia, Washington.
Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Governors of Washington Category:Washington attorneys general Category:University of Washington alumni Category:Gonzaga University alumni Category:Democratic Party governors of Washington Category:People from Auburn, Washington