Gov. Gregoire announces opening of SW Washington regional office

For Immediate Release: July 21, 2005

OLYMPIA � July 21, 2005 � Gov. Christine Gregoire today announced the opening of her Southwest Washington regional office and appointed Jim Jacks her regional representative for the area.

�Southwest Washington is a growing area that�s vital to our state economy,� Gov. Gregoire said. �Having an office here will provide the support the community needs as we work together on important issues such as increasing opportunities for higher education, finding solutions to transportation challenges, and encouraging businesses to locate in the area.

�Jim knows this community well,� Gregoire added. �He will be an excellent resource for the people of this area and my office.�

Jacks has a wealth of experience in the community. He has worked for the City of Vancouver for six years where he now serves as the citizen advocate. Jacks also was a project coordinator for Vancouver�s Offender Mediation Program. He will begin the position in the regional office on Sept. 1, 2005.

In the interim, the office will be opened immediately by former state Representative Val Ogden from Vancouver. Ogden served in the House of Representatives for 12 years, the last four as speaker pro tem, before retiring in 2002. Ogden can be reached by phone (360�896-2361) and e-mail ([email protected]). The office is located in the Regional Labor and Industries Office in Vancouver.

Gregoire made the announcement this afternoon during a visit to the Vancouver area. The office will provide support and be a point of contact for Clark, Cowlitz, Pacific, Wahkiakum and Skamania Counties.

The Office of the Governor also has an Eastern Washington regional office located in Spokane.

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