Voice of the Mid-Columbia | Kennewick, Pasco and Richland, Wash. |
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Chris Mulick has worked for the Herald since 1998 and has served as the statehouse correspondent covering state government and politics since 2000. He works year-round out of the Herald's Olympia bureau on the state Capitol campus. Have a question? Send Chris an e-mail and he'll answer the best questions regularly. |
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So I'm all set up here in the Richland Clarion hotel after having just spent a few minutes with Gov. Chris Gregoire.
A few things worth mentioning that came out of the conversation. She clarified cautious comments made last week about a proposal for a uranium enrichment plant proposed for Richland. Gregoire said her support for the project is unqualified and stands so long as Areva would meet pre-existing permitting requirements and the like and has no reason to believe it wouldn't.
She said she's trying to walk a fine line here. On the one hand she says she's trying to keep opponents at bay. On the other hand, she's not certain Washington is Areva's top choice and wants to temper any overconfidence Washington may have.
I also asked Gregoire about her dismal electoral showing in the Tri-Cities in 2004. She got just 30 percent of the vote in Benton County and 31 percent in Franklin County.
She said her campaign did not adequately communicate what the former attorney general already had achieved for the Tri-Cities.
"People didn't know what I had done or accomplished here," Gregoire said. "I won't that mistake again."
"I'm determined I'm going to come here," she said. "I put the last election behind me."
I'll be posting more later once this 5:30 event begins.
UPDATE: Retired Benton County judge Fred Staples is going table to table trying to get petitions for his Benton County seat petition.
A fellow, presumably from the Gregoire campaign, just dropped by our table to make sure we had enough envelopes. Those are meant for stuffing. Why, they're self addressed and everything!
Heck, if you donate now you can avoid the cost of postage.
6:13 UPDATE: Gregoire entered the room a few minutes ago and is working the crowd. Many folks are standing. I'm still trying to get a decent headcount but there's no science to this. About 250 to 300 is a number a couple of us have bandied about.
6:27 UPDATE: Gregoire was just introduced. A television reporter was among those applauding. Nice.
"There's this rumor out there there aren't any Democrats in Tri-Cities," Gregoire said. "Just take a look. You look great."
6:42 UPDATE: The governor just wrapped up her speech and quickly exited. Another local TV reporter was spotted applauding. Very nice.
And now for the undercard. A series of down ballot candidates are scheduled to speak.
7:03 UPDATE: State Rep. Jim McIntire is speaking now, a Seattle Democrat who is running for state treasurer. He just mentioned that he teaches economics "at that other school" on the other side of the mountains. Several people clapped. Specifically, two. Too bad those TV reporters already have bailed.
But it's clear he didn't intend that to be an applause line. Perhaps he was just making himself look human.
7:08 UPDATE: "I want to tell you you're really average here," said Peter Goldmark, a candidate for public lands commissioner.
He wasn't speaking generally. He was talking about how many folks understand what the job is. The answer, according to Goldmark, is about one in 10. The line drew a few laughs anyway.
7:29 UPDATE: The last speaker has spoken and the crowd has thinned out. They're announcing the raffle winners and, since I didn't enter, I think I'm outta here and on to my next assignment. Hey, somebody just won a tool bag.
7:34 UPDATE: They just announced a Clinton gift bag filled with memorabilia from the Clinton administration.
"Nuh-uh," said one self-identified Obama Mama. "I don't want that one."
And with that, thanks for reading.
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