News Releases
Office of Governor Gary Locke
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 15, 1997
Contact:  Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Locke sworn in as Washington's 21st governor - New governor pledges to make education his top priority

OLYMPIA - Gary Locke, 46, took office today as Washington state's 21st governor and said he is "passionately committed" to lead the state in developing an education system that makes hope and opportunity possible for all of the people of Washington.

Locke was sworn into office by State Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara Durham early Wednesday afternoon. The event took place during a joint session of the Legislature before a standing-room only audience in the chamber of the House of Representatives. The ceremony was witnessed by nearly 100 of Locke's relatives, including his wife, Mona Lee Locke, and his parents, James and Julie Locke of Seattle.

As he did throughout the 1996 election campaign, in which he won 58 percent of the vote, Locke emphasized in his inaugural address the critical role of education in his own life as well as its importance to the entire state.

Locke, the first Chinese-American governor in the nation's history, traced his family's roots in Washington from his grandfather's arrival in the state nearly 100 years ago. His grandfather, Suey Gim Locke, worked as a "house boy" for a family in Olympia, where he learned English in return for his work.

"Although I may be standing less than a mile from where our family started its life in America, we've come a long way," the new governor said. "Our journey was successful because the Locke family embraces three values: Get a good education, work hard, and take care of each other."

Locke said his mother learned English along with him when he was in kindergarten, when the family lived in the Yesler Terrace public housing project in Seattle.

"Education is the great equalizer that makes hope and opportunity possible," he said. "That's why I am passionately committed to developing a world-class system of education."

Locke said his administration would be governed by four overriding commitments: to education; to promote mutual respect among all people; to support working families; and to protect the environment.

"To help us live up to these principles, I intend to set clear, challenging goals," he said. "Everyone in state government will be held accountable for achieving results - not for convening meetings, creating commissions or following reams of clumsy regulations."

Locke sketched an agenda for his administration that includes proposals to:

-- Stabilize funding of K-12 education by amending the state Constitution to allow local voters to approve funding levies with a majority vote, instead of the current 60-percent requirement.

» Return to this month's News Releases
» View News Release Archive

Access Washington