Gov. Christine Gregoire

Democrat Christine Gregoire has little time for festivities after she is sworn in today as Washington's new governor. She faces several daunting challenges: a sizable budget shortfall, questions about the election's validity and the ongoing task of making sure Democrats don't overreach.

If Gregoire is to be successful, she should work to prevent the Democrat-controlled House and Senate from going too far in pursuing a narrow Democratic agenda. That is especially true considering the dicey economic climate into which Gregoire, and the state, steps. The state faces a deficit of more than $1 billion. Former Gov. Gary Locke proposed a $500 million increase in sin taxes on items such as soda, beer and wine. And leaders of both the House and Senate are seriously considering revenue increases.

Gregoire ought to follow her own campaign rhetoric that a tax increase now could hamper the economic turnaround. She will be a strong leader if she stays true to her campaign promise of no new taxes.

If there must be a tax increase, it should be aimed at increasing access to higher education, the most productive area for new investment.

Much healing needs to be done in our state and it should reach beyond a "healing tour" or other contrivance. Almost half the residents in Washington voted for Republican Dino Rossi, which means they bought his message of change and of making the state more business-friendly.

Out of respect for those voters, Gregoire should conduct her own review of regulations to see if those that hamstring business can be discarded or revised. That would be a unifying act. Gregoire could further bridge the divide by appointing a Republican to a key Cabinet position, such as director of Labor and Industries.

The state needs that kind of leadership after such a protracted, divisive gubernatorial race.

During the campaign, Gregoire talked a good game about creating more jobs. That need has not gone away.

Overall, Gregoire's challenge is to be a different governor than Locke. This is no indictment of Locke. He presided over good times and bad and made decisions of both varieties. But a new person at the helm should take a fresh look at the way Olympia runs — and sometimes stumbles.

That will be especially important as teachers come seeking salary increases. A budget proposal from Terry Bergeson, the superintendent of public instruction, asks for a 6.5-percent teacher salary boost for the biennium.

Teachers cannot help but notice the budget proposal by Locke includes negotiated cost-of-living raises of 3.2 percent for state employees, including higher education but not public school employees. The package includes no make-up raises for years that went without increases. Gregoire should not reopen those contracts. It would be time-consuming and take her eye off more important matters.

The new governor will need considerable fortitude to push for election reform, including several changes advanced by Secretary of State Sam Reed. Election reforms, such as moving the September primary to June, surface almost every year but the Legislature refuses to approve the change. The current system favors incumbents.

Gregoire has to push past that. She also should remember what she learned on the campaign trail. People want new efficiencies and accountability from government. They want the Department of Social and Health Services to keep children and families safer.

They want something more than rhetoric on health care and education. Average Washingtonians worry about losing their jobs and, worse, their health-care benefits.

Rising health-care costs are cutting too big a swath in the state budget. Locke took early steps toward ensuring Washington residents can buy cheaper drugs from Canada. The new governor should join other states to negotiate for lower drug prices for people who get health care through the state.

And while Initiative 884 — the measure to spend $1 billion a year on preschool through higher education — failed miserably at the polls, Gregoire should recognize the sales-tax increase killed the measure, not a lack of desire to improve public education. Lawmakers may strike middle ground by opting to spend less to reduce class sizes and increase slots at colleges and universities.

Assuming this election sticks, Gregoire has the tenacity and command of the issues to lead us out of the election gloom and doubt and bring positive direction to a state that is looking for leadership.