| Locke gives farewell speech MARTHA
MODEEN; The News Tribune Olympia, WA - Ending a 22-year career in public office, Gov. Gary
Locke delivered his last major speech as governor Tuesday, saying
the state is in better shape than when he took office eight years
ago. Elected state officials, nine state Supreme Court judges and foreign dignitaries from Japan to Mexico came to hear Locke deliver his eighth gubernatorial address opening a legislative session. “We have Washington on track for a very bright future,” he told a joint session of the House and the Senate during a 25-minute speech interrupted by applause 18 times. The official line for Republicans was that they wished him well. But some GOP members were noticeably absent during Locke’s speech. Many were disappointed by their failure minutes earlier to delay acceptance of the election results in the disputed governor’s race. “This governor has had a long term in Olympia. He has some things to be proud of,” said Rep. Gary Chandler (R-Granger), House minority leader, who stayed to listen. “To serve eight years is a long time for anyone.” Democrats praised Locke for being a good governor and said they’re eager to begin working with Locke’s successor, Christine Gregoire, who will be sworn in today. “Overall, it was a good speech. But what I did not hear was that while the state is moving forward, we’re a long ways from having sufficient revenues,” said Sen. Debbie Regala (D-Tacoma). Locke said that during his two terms, access to health care has improved, test scores have risen for Washington’s schoolchildren and 17,000 more students are attending state colleges and universities than when he took office. During the last two years, the economy has begun to bounce back and nine national companies have chosen Washington as home over other West Coast states, Locke said.
But Locke also cautioned lawmakers that they still need to help families move off welfare by providing affordable health care and quality job-training programs. The state also needs to invest in education and worker retraining programs to help “cultivate a healthy, dynamic business climate,” he said. “As our economy improves and companies like Microsoft, Amgen and Boeing and others hire more people, do we want our children to have the opportunity to work at these companies? Or will they be forced to hire people from out of state?” he asked. Locke, the nation’s first Chinese American governor, began his political career in 1982 by winning a state House seat representing Seattle’s Central District. He later served as the elected King County executive before winning the governor’s race in 1996 after Mike Lowry opted not to run for a second term. The Inauguration by the numbers Christine Gregoire will be the star of the show at tonight’s inaugural ball on the Capitol campus in Olympia, which runs from 7 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the “will call” pavilion near the Legislative Building’s south portico. Here’s a by-the-numbers look at the event: Cost of one ticket: $75 Total cost of ball: About $275,000 Number of tickets expected to be sold: 3,500 Number of yellow roses ordered for corsages and boutonnieres: 360 Drinks 720 bottles of chardonnay 480 bottles of merlot 240 bottles of cabernet 120 bottles of champagne 12 cases of sparkling apple cider 5,000 souvenir short plastic wine glasses embossed with the state seal Food 6,000 pieces of shrimp cocktail Artichoke proscuitto barigoule with saffron aioli Broiled vegetable terrine Buffalo hot wings Cured coho salmon with fennel salad Hoisin barbecued pork and rock shrimp lumpia with mango coulis Moroccan tagine lamb cup Sake-lemon grass gravlax with cucumber leaf, pineapple relish and salmon roe The Associated Press Sources: Governor’s Inaugural Ball Committee; Bill Williams, Eurest
regional executive chef
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