Gregoire receives death threat

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Patrol is keeping close watch over both Gov. Christine Gregoire and her Republican rival, Dino Rossi, after Gregoire received a death threat and emotions over the contested election continue to run high.

Gregoire told reporters today she received a death threat and that she plans to keep a lid on publicizing her movements outside the heavily guarded Capitol and Governor's Mansion.

Rossi has around-the-clock protection.

"I'm going to honor it when the chief of the state patrol says that for my personal security, we need to maintain some procedures," Gregoire said, referring to the blackout on releasing a detailed schedule.

"Give me six months. Allow me these six months."

She said she got a death threat, but added: "I'm not going to be deterred by any of that. I got death threats, frankly, when I was attorney general. I've got a job to do, but I'm also going to be smart (about security considerations). I owe that to the citizens of the state and I will listen to the chief of the state patrol."

She said blamed "the level of discussion on some of these talk radio shows" for whipping up people.

She said Rossi was assigned a security detail by the patrol. She said it was the chief's call.

Capt. Jeff DeVere, spokesman for the patrol, said he couldn't talk about the particulars, but confirmed both the death threat and talked in general about protecting both Gregoire and Rossi.

DeVere said a third party reported overhearing Jeffrey Martelli of the Yakima County town of Wapato saying he disliked government officials and planned to kill Gregoire and her children, he said. Nothing came of the Jan. 19 threat, but the man was booked, arrested and released to await a trial, he said.

Rossi was assigned bodyguards from the elite Executive Protection Unit after he won the first vote tally in November and was designated the governor-elect. He had access to the state patrol plane and to a secure governor-elect's office.

Rossi won a machine recount, but Gregoire pulled ahead in a third count and was declared the winner. Rossi is contesting the election.

DeVere said the patrol is still concerned for Rossi's safety.

"We are still reviewing this on a daily basis to determine if there is still any potential harm to Mr. Rossi," he said. "We don't have anything specific, but if you look at the overall level of contentiousness over the election, our goal is to ensure his safety."

Rossi spokeswoman Mary Lane said Rossi's protection is "24-7" but declined to give particulars. Rossi didn't request continuing patrol protection, but accepted it after the chief recommended it, she said.

"Dino takes the security of his wife and his four children very seriously and when the state patrol recommends it, he takes it very seriously."

She complained about a "snotty" press release from the Democrats criticizing Rossi for taking the executive protection.

"Mind you, John Kerry is no longer protected by Secret Service," spokeswoman Kirstin Brost said in that statement. "Apparently, it is riskier to be a former candidate for governor in Washington state than to be a former candidate for president."

She called the bodyguards a "personal perk ... during a statewide budget crunch."