Posted on 01/07/2005 3:04:26 PM PST by Josef1235
Friday, January 7, 2005 · Last updated 2:34 p.m. PT
Gregoire: 'Healing to be done'
By DAVID AMMONS AP POLITICAL WRITER
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Gov.-elect Christine Gregoire on Friday pledged to tour the state to begin a healing process after an election that deeply divided voters and the political parties.
"It's my job to help the state of Washington heal," she told a Capitol news conference called primarily to introduce an initial round of key appointees. She is keeping outgoing Gov. Gary Locke's chief of staff, Tom Fitzsimmons, for at least six months and his budget director, Marty Brown, will become her legislative director.
"A `healing tour' - what a joke!" groused Mary Lane, spokeswoman for Republican rival Dino Rossi. "That sounds like Dr. Phil and not the governor of the state of Washington.
"As for healing, right now she is an illegitimate governor and the only thing that will heal this state is a revote."
Gregoire said she's dashing to put together a new government, and trying not to be diverted by criticism and lawsuits, including the new one lodged Friday by the Republicans.
She's scheduled to be sworn in next Wednesday after being declared the victor in the ultra-close race with Republican Dino Rossi. She won a statewide hand recount by 129 votes out of over 2.8 million cast.
Legislative Republicans plan to demand that her inauguration be postponed while a challenge works its way through the courts. They want a statewide revote.
Gregoire said she understands the angst and anger, but believes the election was properly conducted and valid.
She said a tiny amount of human error is inevitable in conducting an election with so many votes, but that the state's election system fared remarkably well.
"Every day, it's a new issue that has been raised," she said. "I have yet to see any proof of any illegality on behalf of election officials. They have operated in a consummately professional way. I see no intent on their part to defraud the voters of the state of Washington."
She said some "honest potential mistakes" have been made, but added: "They are not fraudulent. They are not illegal."
Gregoire repeated her mantra that, "The election is over, so we need to move forward."
She said the continuing angry reaction is "highly unfortunate," and that she intends to try to defuse it, both by traveling around the state and by finding effective solutions to people's most pressing concerns, such as schools, health coverage and the economy.
She didn't have a definite schedule or format, but said she'll start her travels early in her term, including during the legislative session that begins Monday.
Lane said Rossi had toured the state for town hall meetings on the budget and other issues, and that the Gregoire's tour sounds bogus.
"We are not going to put this behind us. Forget about it," she said.
Gregoire acknowledged that the foreshortened transition has put her behind in the naming of a cabinet. She said she hopes to fill three top posts within a month after a national search: directors of Social and Health Services, Labor and Industries, and Community, Trade and Economic Development.
She pledged to bring change and diversity to government with her picks, but will have to rely at first on the holdovers from her longtime mentor, Democratic Gov. Gary Locke, who's leaving after two terms.
Two of Locke's most visible and best-liked veterans will be joining her team.
Fitzsimmons, a mountain-climbing former Ecology director, will continue as chief of staff, the top post in the governor's inner office. Initially, it's a six-month appointment. He has been with Locke all eight years.
Brown, another longtime Olympia hand in both the Senate and the administration, has been one of Locke's most trusted lieutenants, both as legislative liaison and budget director. He'll serve a pivotal role for Gregoire, pursuing her legislative agenda in a Legislature that is divided over the validity of her election.
Lyle Canceko, Locke's former outreach director and deputy communications chief, will be Gregoire's community relations manager, and will do the advance work for the "healing tour."
Gregoire's other appointees also are familiar to Olympia insiders. Victor Moore, who has worked for both parties as House Appropriations Committee staff director, will take on Brown's role as budget director. He also has been budget chief for the court system. Laurie Dolan of Spokane, a Democrat who has lost two state Senate races, will serve as Gregoire's policy director.
Gregoire previously announced that she's keeping Maj. Gen. Timothy Lowenberg as head of the National Guard, emergency management chief and top homeland security adviser.
I concur.
Agree. Wear orange. Surround the legislature. Block the swearing in ceremony. Learn from Kiev. Force a new election. Don't let democracy die in Washington State, for that is what happens if Gregoirevych is sworn in.
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