Gov. Gregoire goes digital - Updates now available via Twitter, Facebook

For Immediate Release: June 25, 2009

OLYMPIA � The popular social networks, Facebook and Twitter, have a new fan. Gov. Chris Gregoire is using them to stay in touch with constituents and others interested in Washington state government.

�Through the use of these interactive technologies, I aim to provide Washingtonians with information in a way that is efficient, useful and fun,� Gregoire said.

By linking constituents to resources such as the state�s recovery Web site and WorkSource employment database, Gregoire hopes to �help people who may otherwise have not discovered these tools and make the work of government more transparent.�

Gregoire started an account on twitter.com last month and now shares regular updates, dubbed �tweets,� with followers. Though she jokes that there was once a time when �to �tweet� was to chirp,� Gregoire has continued to post messages on the site. The governor�s tweets range from wishing Washingtonians a happy Father�s Day to announcing the moment she entered the gate to the White House this week when she met with President Obama on health care reform.

A fan page on Facebook was launched to provide a more detailed method of updating supporters. This site includes photos, upcoming events, and links to articles and releases.

The governor�s Twitter account can be viewed at http://twitter.com/govgregoire. Her Facebook fan page is at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chris-Gregoire/98121819044?ref=nf.