Gov. Chris Gregoire on Sunday’s Up Front program on KING TV in Seattle was asked about her role in the failed recruitment of the Areva uranium enrichment plant to the Tri-Cities and that produced a good two-minute long exchange.
You can find the video here. The question comes up just before the 10 minute mark.
Gregoire again referred to the largely complimentary letter she received from Areva President Michael McMurphy the day the company announced it would build its plant in Idaho. In that letter McMurphy referred to “your own work to make Washington the most attractive host” and to “political leadership’s support at federal, state and local levels.”
That was a sentiment that was not widely shared among those working to recruit the company in the Tri-Cities.
“I think the best judge about whether we did all we could do is the company itself,” Gregoire said on Sunday’s program. “And the letter the company wrote us... was you’ve done everything you could.”
Gregoire also talked up accomplishments that have played well in the Tri-Cities.
“The fact of the matter is I have led so much in the Tri-Cities that today they have a four-year university they wouldn’t have without my advocacy,” she said. “Today they have Hanford getting cleaned up that is the result of my advocacy. They have water... that is the result of my advocacy.”
“I’ve been a champion for Tri-Cities,” Gregoire said. “They’ll tell you I’ve been there more than any other governor.”
“Could we all have done a better job? Absolutely,” she said. “So we need to learn that as we move forward.”
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