PORT ANGELES — Gov. Gary Locke spent his 10th and final visit to Clallam County as the state’s chief executive Monday by visiting some of the projects developed while in office.
One of those projects — the Hood Canal Bridge graving yard — caused Locke to confront the emotional issue of ancient Native American remains found on the Port Angeles Harbor site.
Locke made an unscheduled visit to the Marine Drive site Monday afternoon in response to a verbal invitation from Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Chairwoman Frances Charles during Locke’s speech to the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce.
The retiring governor, who has fewer than three months remaining on his term, spoke of the delicate balance between the huge onshore dry dock project and the more than 200 skeletons and artifacts, some dating back 1,700 years.
During other visits in Port Angeles on Monday, Locke praised Clallam County as “an incredible place” with “so many things to be proud of.”
He began his visit by addressing the Chamber of Commerce’s noon luncheon before an audience of about 125 at the Port Angeles CrabHouse Restaurant.
He said Washington state is on track for a bright future after surviving an earthquake, drought, the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the subsequent recession and recent awakening of Mount St. Helens volcano.
4.4 percent jobless rate
Clallam County and its economic development efforts have produced an unemployment rate below state and national averages, Locke said, generating chamber audience applause as he noted that the county’s jobless rate last month was 4.4 percent.
Legislators who once suggested that unemployed Clallam County residents should move to Seattle to find work now might suggest that they move to Clallam instead, Locke mused.
