Seattle to host U.S. governors this weekend

By Ralph Thomas
Seattle Times Olympia bureau

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The governors of at least 35 states are expected to attend the National Governors Association (NGA) event at the Westin Hotel.

The meeting, hosted by Washington state Gov. Gary Locke, is not open to the public. The 1,000 or so attendees are mostly governors' family members and staffers, state agency officials and the corporate sponsors who shelled out more than $2 million to stage the event.

The annual gathering of the governors is billed as an opportunity to share ideas for tackling big problems. The main theme of this year's meeting is health care and how to cope with America's aging baby-boomer population.

"This is a policy-wonk meeting," said association spokeswoman Christine LaPaille.

Two of the nation's best-known chief state executives — Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother; and New York Gov. George Pataki — are not planning to attend.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is listed as a maybe.

The governors aim to take advantage of all the political star-power and corporate clout that will be in town.

The weekend kicks off tomorrow with several big campaign fund-raisers.

The national Republican Governors Association, which funnels millions of dollars to GOP candidates each election year, is hosting a dinner tomorrow evening at El Gaucho steakhouse. About six GOP governors and at least 75 guests are expected, said spokesman Harvey Valentine.

To get in, you need a membership, which runs from $5,000 to $25,000.
 
Before that, several Republican governors — including Alaska's Frank Murkowski, Colorado's Bill Owens and Massachusetts' Mitt Romney — are scheduled to appear at the Grand Hyatt hotel for a $1,000-a-ticket fund-raiser for Dino Rossi.

A former state senator from Sammamish, Rossi is trying to become the state's first Republican governor in 20 years.

The National Governors Association has guidelines that discourage the parties from holding political fund raising in conjunction with its annual business meetings.

"We'd prefer that these kind of campaign events not be held at the same time as NGA," Locke said in a prepared statement. "But in an election year, I suppose it is inevitable."

In fact, Locke himself is taking part in an event to help the state Democratic Party fend off Rossi and the Republicans.

Teresa Heinz Kerry, the wife of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. John Kerry, will be the main draw tomorrow morning for a $50-a-ticket rally at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm also is expected to attend.

Proceeds will go toward either King County Executive Ron Sims or Attorney General Christine Gregoire — whichever wins the Democratic Party's nomination for governor.

Republicans hold the governor's office in 28 states, while Democrats hold 22. Only 11 seats are on the ballot this year, and this state's race is considered one of the three or four most-competitive contests.

After taking a Saturday-evening boat ride to a private reception at Bill and Melinda Gates' home on Lake Washington, the governors finally will get to the policy part of their meeting Sunday morning.

LaPaille, the National Governors Association spokeswoman, said a main focus of the meeting will be to help the states "make America elder-ready." As part of that effort, Idaho Gov. Dirk Kempthorne, chairman of the association for the past year, will release a list of 20 recommended actions for improving long-term care.

The agenda also includes panel discussions titled "Is there a case for environmental optimism," "A consumer-driven health-care system in the digital age" and "Improving state competitiveness."

Panelists include former Republican U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Democratic White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, and Starbucks CEO Orin Smith.

On Monday morning, many of the governors will take part in a town-hall-style meeting with about 200 Seattle-area senior citizens, long-term-care providers and employers. The meeting will be televised later as part of a PBS series on caregivers called "And Thou Shalt Honor."

Later that day, the governors are to meet behind closed doors with Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.

The weekend schedule includes a couple of concerts on Seattle's waterfront and a "traditional Seattle evening" at Experience Music Project and the Space Needle. There also will be some made-for-camera events, such as Locke and two other governors catching salmon thrown by Pike Place Market fishmongers.

After helping Seattle land this year's meeting of the National Governors Association, Locke and his staff members have played a big role in putting the event together.

Tracy Newman, who was Locke's campaign fund-raiser in 2000 and now is working for Gregoire, was in charge of rounding up corporate donors. Locke made calls and wrote letters urging some of the state's biggest businesses to pitch in.

Boeing, Microsoft, Nextel and Amgen each gave $150,000 — enough to earn them "emerald" status on the sponsor list of the National Governors Association. More than 60 other businesses gave donations ranging from $10,000 to $100,000.

Ralph Thomas: 360-943-9882 or rthomas@seattletimes.com