Christine Gregoire
Washington's 22nd Governor

As Washington's 22nd Governor, Chris Gregoire has delivered real results to the people of Washington State. Combining effective leadership with a tireless work ethic, she has shown time and again that she has the courage and independence to stand up and fight for individuals and families. Governor Gregoire's hard work in Olympia is an extension of her lifetime of service to the people of Washington State.

Prior to serving as governor, Gregoire served three terms as attorney general - the first woman to be elected to the position in Washington.

While director of the Washington Department of Ecology, Gregoire negotiated the safe cleanup and permanent storage of radioactive wastes at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The site is regarded as the largest environmental cleanup project in the world.

Chris O'Grady was raised in Auburn, Washington, by her mother who worked as a cook to support the family. She rode horses, picked blueberries and learned the value of hard work and a good education. After graduating from Auburn High School, Chris went on to the University of Washington where she graduated with a teaching certificate and Bachelor of Arts degree in speech and sociology. She met her husband, Mike, in September of 1971 when they both worked for the Washington Department of Social and Health Services. Chris received her law degree in 1977 from Gonzaga University.

Chris and Mike have two daughters, Courtney and Michelle. Courtney is an attorney and Michelle is a junior in college.

Featured Book:
"The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century" by Thomas L. Friedman

New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman talks about the events in recent history that "flattened" the world - lowered barriers to make us more connected with each other, like the fall of the Berlin Wall or when Netscape went public and the rise of internet search engines.

This book is especially important to Washington because or state is the most trade-dependant state in the nation. One out of three jobs in Washington depends on trade, and against other states, we also compete against other nations.

Our educational system also must be able to compete internationally. To survive, we need to go toe-to-toe with Japan, Germany, Ireland and the top schools in India, or any number of countries that invest more to get better results from their schools than us. Business leaders want to know that we have a well-trained, educated, modern workforce and they want good schools for their children and their employees' children.

Friedman says that to succeed in this flat, connected world, you must compete globally.