Three of the North Olympic Peninsula’s current and former Democratic state legislators said Monday they were not surprised that Chris Gregoire announced that she would not seek a third four-year term as governor.
“She never said anything to me, but I sensed she would not run again,” said former House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler of Hoquiam, who retired Jan. 10 after serving in Olympia for 18 years.
Kessler, state Rep. Steve Tharinger of Sequim (who also serves as a Clallam County commissioner) and state Sen. Jim Hargrove of Hoquiam — all of the 24th District, which includes Jefferson and Clallam counties and a third of Grays Harbor County — said the last legislative session, a budget-wrenching exercise, took a toll on Gregoire.
“She put her nose to the grindstone on budget issues, and I thought that’s taken a whole bunch out of her,” Kessler said in a telephone interview.
Deciding not to run 18 months before the 2012 election also allows Gregoire to “just zero in and get the job done,” said Kessler, a friend and confidant of the 64-year-old governor.
“She needs to pay attention to the state,” Kessler said. “We need someone to do that now.”
Noted Hargrove: “The lemons couldn’t be quite made into lemonade. I can see where that would be difficult to deal with.”
Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna, 48, who launched his bid for governor last week, will be “a formidable opponent” for any Democrat who takes the plunge, Kessler said.
That includes Democratic 1st Congressional District U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, who has indicated a desire to run if Gregoire didn’t.
“I like Jay, I think he has a fighting chance,” Kessler said, but added that Inslee’s congressional background might be a liability considering the public’s precipitously low approval rating for Congress.
Tharinger, who is in his first two-year term in the state House, said Gregoire was not giving much indication she was planning to seek a third term, adding she waited longer than he had expected to make her decision known.
“It’s the right decision to her,” he said, echoing Kessler.
“She’s still got 18 months with a lot to do.”
Tharinger called Gregoire “an effective problem solver” with a history of accomplishments, including her leadership as attorney general in the more than $300 billion tobacco settlement in 1997 between 38 states and the tobacco companies they sued.
Tharinger said Inslee’s name recognition from serving in Congress gives him an advantage as a challenger to McKenna.
He said McKenna also faces scrutiny, particularly considering his joining two dozen other states that are suing the federal government over the national health care reform law mandate.
“Washington is fairly moderate and progressive, and he’s taken some stances that aren’t that,” Tharinger said.
“It’s always a challenge to solidify your base, but they you have to win in a general election.”
Hargrove said he’s known Gregoire for more than 25 years.
Her Monday announcement “was kind of disappointing to me,” said Hargrove, who just completed his 27th legislative session.
“She was more engaged in policy than other governors I served under,” Hargrove added.
Gubernatorial candidates haven’t necessarily had to grapple with the problems of shaping consensus decisions of the magnitude Gregoire has, Hargrove said.
“It’s not as easy as it sounds,” he said.
“It has taken a toll on her.”
Hargrove said he wouldn’t comment on Inslee’s strengths or weaknesses — or those of any other announced or speculated-upon candidates.
“There are frequently some surprises,” he said of those who might enter the race.
Rep. Kevin Van De Wege of Sequim, who also represents the 24th District, did not return a call for comment on Gregoire’s announcement.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-417-3536 or at paul.gottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
