Governor Chris Gregoire

Governor Chris Gregoire
Name	Christine Gregoire
Birth date	24 March 1947
Birth place	Auburn, Washington
Office	22nd Governor of Washington
Term start	January 12, 2005
Term end	January 16, 2013
Predecessor	Gary Locke
Successor	Jay Inslee
Alma mater	Gonzaga University School of Law, University of Washington
Party	Democratic Party

Governor Chris Gregoire Christine Gregoire (born March 24, 1947) is an American politician and attorney who served as the 22nd Governor of Washington from 2005 to 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as Attorney General of Washington and held roles in state administration, national commissions, and nonprofit organizations. Gregoire's tenure intersected with issues involving regional transportation, environmental policy, tribal relations, and statewide fiscal challenges.

Early life and education

Gregoire was born in Auburn, Washington and raised in a family with ties to the Puget Sound region and the Pacific Northwest. She attended public schools in Kent, Washington and later enrolled at the University of Washington, where she began studies before transferring to Seattle University; she completed her undergraduate education while raising a family and later earned a Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law. Her early mentors included figures from the Washington State Legislature and legal community who influenced her focus on consumer protection, public service, and administrative law. Her education connected her to networks in Olympia, Washington, King County, Washington, and legal circles tied to the Washington State Bar Association.

Legal and early political career

Gregoire's legal career began in private practice and as a prosecutor, leading to appointments in state government, including work in the Washington State Department of Revenue and as a deputy attorney general in the office led by Slade Gorton's successors. She served as director of the Washington State Department of Ecology and as chief of staff to Governor Mike Lowry, engaging with policy areas that drew attention from stakeholders such as the Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and regional tribes including the Tulalip Tribes and Muckleshoot Indian Tribe. Her early political alliances connected her with leaders in the Democratic National Committee, labor organizations like the AFL–CIO, and civic institutions such as the Aspen Institute.

Washington Attorney General

Elected Attorney General of Washington in 1992 and reelected in 1996 and 2000, Gregoire led litigation and consumer protection efforts that placed her alongside attorneys general from states including California, New York, and Massachusetts in multistate actions against corporations such as Microsoft, Tobacco companies, and financial firms implicated in consumer fraud. Her office negotiated settlements influenced by federal entities like the Department of Justice and engaged in litigation pertaining to Endangered Species Act implementation involving the Bonneville Power Administration and hydroelectric projects on the Columbia River. Gregoire also worked with advocacy groups including the American Civil Liberties Union and environmental nonprofits such as The Nature Conservancy on statewide initiatives.

Gubernatorial campaigns

Gregoire sought the Democratic nomination for governor and narrowly won the 2004 general election after a statewide recount and judicial review that involved the Washington State Supreme Court and drew national attention from figures in the Democratic National Committee and media outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post. She ran for reelection in 2008, defeating Republican challenger Dino Rossi to secure a second term amid the national political context of the 2008 United States presidential election and policy debates involving the state budget and transportation initiatives supported by regional authorities such as the Metropolitan King County Council.

Governorship (2005–2013)

As governor, Gregoire prioritized initiatives on environmental restoration, transportation funding, and health reform, working with the Washington State Legislature and regional partners including Sound Transit, the Port of Seattle, and tribal governments like the Snoqualmie Tribe. Her administration implemented measures related to salmon recovery involving the Endangered Species Act, collaborated with federal officials from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the National Marine Fisheries Service, and advanced climate and energy policies in alignment with entities such as the Western Climate Initiative. She presided over responses to the 2008 financial crisis alongside state treasurers and budget directors, negotiating biennial budgets with legislative leaders from the Washington State Senate and Washington House of Representatives and working with labor unions including the Service Employees International Union and business groups like the Washington State Chamber of Commerce. Gregoire also supported education initiatives tied to the Seattle School District and higher education institutions such as Washington State University and University of Washington.

Post-gubernatorial activities

After leaving office, Gregoire joined nonprofit boards and national commissions, engaging with organizations including the National Governors Association, the Bipartisan Policy Center, and conservation groups like The Nature Conservancy and the Smithsonian Institution's advisory councils. She served on corporate and philanthropic advisory boards, collaborating with leaders from institutions such as Microsoft, Boeing, and healthcare organizations like Providence Health & Services. Gregoire continued involvement in regional environmental and salmon recovery efforts with partners including the Bonneville Power Administration and the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

Personal life and legacy

Gregoire is married to Michael Gregoire, and the couple has two children; their family life has ties to communities across King County, Washington and the Puget Sound region. Her legacy is discussed by commentators at institutions including The Everett Herald, The Seattle Times, and academic analysts at University of Washington public policy centers, emphasizing her roles in environmental policy, tribal relations, and state fiscal management. Awards and honors she has received involve recognition from organizations such as the National Governors Association, Gonzaga University, and environmental groups including Earthjustice. Her career is studied alongside other Pacific Northwest leaders like Gary Locke, Christine O. Gregoire is often compared in policy analyses with successors including Jay Inslee and predecessors including Dixy Lee Ray in discussions of regional governance and public service.

Category:Governors of Washington (state) Category:1947 births Category:Living people