Governor Gregoire, JD ('77) was raised in Auburn, Wash., by her mother, who worked as a short-order cook to support the family. She rode horses, picked blueberries and learned the value of hard work and a good education. She graduated from the University of Washington with a teaching certificate and undergraduate degrees in speech and sociology. Gov. Gregoire met her husband, Mike, in 1971 when they both worked for the Washington Department of Social and Health Services, and earned her law degree in 1977 from Gonzaga University School of Law. She is currently serving her second term as the State of Washington's 22nd governor and has stated that she will not run for another term. This year, facing continued budget shortfalls during the worst economic crisis Washington State has experienced in 80 years, Gov. Gregoire challenged the Legislature to be bold and transform state government. She proposed, and the Legislature passed, the Launch Year Act, which will help all Washington students make their senior year in high school their first year of college study or career training. Other major accomplishments included the most significant reforms in the workers compensation program in a century, unemployment insurance reform, and the consolidation of state office support programs in the Department of Enterprise Services. Prior to serving as governor, Gov. Gregoire served three terms as Washington State Attorney General, the first woman elected to the position in the State's history.

• published: 01 Nov 2012
• views: 47
• author: gonzagau