Up for the Count

OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON

At last, Christine Gregoire (D) is Washington's 22nd governor!

When Public Employee readers last heard about the former AFSCME member (January/February, Page 9), the very close election had not yet been decided. But determined that every vote should count, Gregoire fought successfully for a hand count of the ballots — and won by 128 votes.

She values the public sector, and supports fair pay and benefits for public employees. In addition, she is committed to the collective bargaining process. That's particularly important because Council 28 is in the final stages of winning its first statewide contract — for 40,000 workers — under Washington's new collective bargaining law.

Gregoire is the child of a single mother who worked as a short-order cook. In her inaugural address, she thanked her mother for imparting "solid values — forgiveness, compassion, respect and caring — for my work ethic and for the love she provided me."