Interview With Michelle Gregoire, Elections 2008

As elections get tighter and tighter, it becomes more important for the candidates to reach out to the community. Governor Chris Gregoire always tries to connect to the community. She goes out, participates in all the activities, and reaches out to the community. Be it the “Race for the Cure” for breast cancer awareness, or the Dalai Lama’s visit, or the children, or the minority communities that live in Washington. She has personally visited the Gurudwara quite a few times. Her daughters are also involved in her campaign and reach out to the community. Her daughter Michelle Gregoire has visited the Sikh Gurudwara and other community centers to seek support for her mother. It is this connection that solidifies her victory.

Governor Gregoire has heard the community and helped us even during our tough times; during hate crimes; to revise the guidelines for the turban, when the DOT had issued the license that said: “not valid for identification”. Immigrants have faced hardships, and it would be a tough task if we do not have Governor Gregoire in office. It is service to the community, reaching out to the community, and listening to the community. It is working together to make Washington State and Country a better place where everyone is heard, where everyone can live happily and the American dream is realized! These are tough times. The economy is in turmoil. We need Governor Gregoire in office more at this time than any time before.

Aasra Magazine went behind the scenes to talk to Michelle Gregoire and to know more about her mother, the wife and the Leader. I talked with her at the campaign headquarters in downtown Seattle. She is the Field Organizer for People for Chris Gregoire-D. I could feel the involvement of the volunteers and others at the campaign headquarters.

Michelle Gregoire is the youngest daughter of Governor Christine Gregoire and her husband Mike. She was born and raised in Olympia. After graduation from Olympia High School, she joined Willamette University in Oregon where she majored in Environmental Science with a social emphasis. She played center midfield for the Willamette girl’s soccer team.

She graduated in 2007 and moved back to Washington, where she championed Sound Transit expansion with Enviro Issues, a community outreach group based in Seattle. In October, she moved again to Washington, D.C. to work as a Staff Assistant and Legislative Correspondent for Congressman Brian Baird. She moved back home in May 2008 to work as a field organizer for the People for Chris Gregoire. After the campaign, she hopes to return to school to pursue a career in environmental public policy. She and her sister, Courtney, both are involved in the campaign.

I was curious to know what our Governor wants to do in the future. Governor Gregoire always talks about giving back to the community and helping people. Her daughter says, “My mom isn’t a traditional politician, but she works to make the State of Washington a better place. She is very much a public servant and wants to continue serving people. My mom called me on her first day as Governor. She said, 'Michelle, I love my new job. With my signature I have enrolled 20,000 children into healthcare.' Going out and speaking to the community, I hear lots of stories. One mother said, 'Can you tell your mom 'Thank You'? Because of her my child is able to go to college under a scholarship fund that she has established.'"

“She may go for a cabinet position when Barack Obama is elected. But she loves her position as a Governor, although she sees it as her last term.”

Michelle said she is amazed at the accomplishment that Governor Gregoire has done for Washington State. “But she is always a mom to me. She knows what I am doing at the campaign. I said, 'I may be getting sick.' She said, 'Pump vitamin C.' She would always come for my soccer games. At one time Whitman, Walla Walla and Willamett, Oregon were playing. One parent asked her how come she is cheering for Oregon. Mom replied she is cheering for her daughter.”

About Negative Ads: “It is hard. But truth will come out. People will recognize what she has done over the past four years for the state of Washington. I am very protective of my family… but it is hard.”

About Community: “The biggest issue is social equality, and being unified. No matter what the differences are. Black, white, male or female, homosexual; social equality is more important in the community. Setting aside the differences and saying- we all have similarities, we all want to be happy, have a good life, raise our family. That is a message that needs to be delivered to all groups. We need a unified community. I want to thank the East Indian community for opening their doors and welcoming me at the Gurudwara Sahib in Marysville and Renton, and at other organizations. I talked about the welcome with my family and friends here at the campaign headquarters and everyone thought that was very cool.”

Aasra Magazine would like to thank Michelle Gregoire for speaking to us and visiting with our community. The whole Sikh community supports Governor Gregoire. She has visited the Sikh Gurudwara Sahib quite often, and stood for Sikh causes. Before I left the campaign headquarters I met Governor Gregoire. And as she left for her next meeting, it was the same love, same hug, for her daughter Michelle, and I could see her as a loving mother.

Webmaster's Note: As an update, Democrat Chris Gregoire was successfully reelected in 2008 as the Governor of Washington state. She and her family send the entire community warm wishes for the new year.

Washington State Governor, Christine Gregoire.

Michelle Gregoire meets members of the Sikh community at the Gurudwara Sahib in Renton to seek support for her mother, Chris Gregoire.