Some tea leaves: The Governor of Washington State has disappeared. Her office, while very tight-lipped about her whereabouts, tells me there will be an announcement early tomorrow morning. Obama’s transition team plans to announce the new Commerce Secretary nominee (replacing Bill Richardson) “very quickly.”

From my interview just now with Gregoire spokesperson Laura Lockard:

Q: Is Governor Gregoire going to be Obama’s nominee for Commerce Secretary?

A: “We’re not able to speak to that so we’ll do a release in the morning.”

Q: Where is she?

A: “She’s out of state.”

Q: Is she in the country?

A: “I’m not allowed to say.”

Q: Is she going to continue as Governor of Washington State?

A: “I’m not allowed to say.”

Like everyone, I await tomorrow’s announcement. But I will say—and again this is just tea leaves—that Lockard didn’t sound like a staffer who was mourning some sort of personal tragedy in her boss’s life.

And, not to get too far ahead of things, but: Governor Brad Owen?

Eli Sanders was The Stranger's associate editor. His book, "While the City Slept," was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. He once did this and once won...

34 replies on “Gregoire as Commerce Secretary?”

  1. Sweet!

    Of course, she could be advising them about who she should recommend to fill Ron Sims seat as King County Exec when he becomes Commerce Secretary …

  4. OK, as an out-of-stater I’ve (shamefully) been ignoring all your Gregoire coverage. Persuade me that she would be a good choice in the position.

  5. If there is any truth to this it could get real interesting because she allowed the atheist sign in Olympia. The GOP wil go freako banana over that issue alone. On the other hand in some weird way it seems to balance out the Rick Warren controversy. The Governor did support same sex civil unions.

  6. Holy crap is right. She’s taken on Big Tobacco, dealt with anti-trust with Microsoft, but other than that she came up through the environmental ranks. She has done a stellar job expanding foreign trade opportunities in the state.

    As they said about Richardson’s role there, Commerce is a place where they fit the job to the candidate.

    I’d be shocked if she got Commerce though.

  7. Gregoiore would be fantastic serving America as Secretary of whatever you like. She’s that versatile! As someone who enthusiastically voted for her based on her not being Dino Rossi, I can promise you that she will continue to not be Dino Rossi for America as much as she was not Dino Rossi for Washington. America can believe in Gregoire!

    Now.

    Who do we get to replace her? Who gets to pick the new gov?

  8. So, to run with this… my (inexpert) reading of the WA Constitution tells me that the Lt. Governor takes over until the next general election. Which would mean Brad Owen for the time being, and then a huge opening for Rossi in November. Ugh.

  18. Chris Gregoire should not be secretary of anything! I can see it now:

    “Commerce Secretary Christine Gregoire was asked about her position on the economic stimulus package after the ninth national popular vote on the issue passed today. She responded with a blank look of confusion and said more study was needed.”

  19. Two alternative story lines A) she’s in DC to announce some “infrastructure” funding for the viaduct, or B) someone else is getting the Sec Com job, and she’s there for the pep rally. However, Bam has rewarded other governors handsomely for their early support…and that budget deficit and viaduct aren’t going to be easy to fix…could she really be bailing?

  22. yes – she is it

    yes – Ron Sims will be our next Gov… this fall, fuck Rossi

    yes – Brad Owens will be an OK caretaker with Frank Chopp running the state

    yes – Gregoire has a national rep because of the tobacco settlement, and Washington has a great rep. for business, among the best … what else does she need? Letters from 10 giant bussineses located in Seattle, bet she has them in her folder already….

    COSTCO, Micro., Starbucks, Amazon, Vulcan, REI, Nordstrom, and the list goes on and on….

    yes – she will thrive in DC

  25. Bwaahhahaahahahaaha

    Gregoire with a cabinet post?

    Bwhaahahaahahaahahahaahahahahha

    Seriously yo? Commerce? What exactly does she have for experience for this most important post?

    She is incredibly not qualified to be Commerce Secretary. Hell she dribbled the Sonics out of town, pissed the Viaduct down her leg, and squandered our state surplus…

    Ohh wait.. she might have perfect credentials.

    Nevermind.

  33. It would be the height of irresponsibility and dereliction of duty for the Governor to abandon her post at this time of crisis in the state, and after having just been re-elected. It is frightening to consider the state in the hands of conservative, unaccomplished, and misguided anti-pot crusader, Lt. Governor Brad Owen.

    I can only hope that Gregoire is in D.C. to announce that Ron Sims is to be appointed to Commerce.

    If she does accept a cabinet position in the Obama Administration, I will again work hard for Ron Sims for Governor. He was my choice in 2004. Sims is a man of the people. I appreciate his authenticity and integrity.

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