Gary Faye Locke (born January 21, 1950) is an American politician who served two terms as the the 21st governor of Washington from 1997-2005. He is the first Chinese American to serve as governor of a state in United States history.[1] On February 25, 2009, President Barack Obama nominated Locke as the next Secretary of Commerce.[2]
Gary Locke
駱家輝
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States Secretary of Commerce-designate
Taking office
TBD
President Barack Obama
Succeeding Carlos Gutierrez
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21st Governor of Washington
In office
January 15, 1997 – January 12, 2005
Lieutenant Brad Owen
Preceded by Mike Lowry
Succeeded by Christine Gregoire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5th King County Executive
In office
January 4, 1994 – January 15, 1997
Preceded by Tim Hill
Succeeded by Ron Sims
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 37th district
In office
January 10, 1983 – January 3, 1994
Preceded by Peggy Joan Maxie
Succeeded by Vivian Caver
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Born January 21, 1950 (1950-01-21) (age 59)
Seattle, Washington
Political party Democratic
Spouse Mona Lee Locke
(李矇/Lĭ Méng)
Alma mater Yale University
Boston University
Religion Baptist
Gary Locke
Traditional Chinese: 駱家輝
Simplified Chinese: 骆家辉
Cantonese Jyutping: Lok3 Gaa1-fai1
Contents
1 Family and education
2 Political career
2.1 Leaving office
2.2 United States Secretary of Commerce nomination
3 Footnotes
4 External links
Family and education
Locke was born on January 21, 1950 in Seattle, Washington. A third-generation American with paternal ancestry from Taishan, Guangdong in China, Locke is the second of five children of James, a native of the United States, and Julie Locke from Hong Kong. His parents gave him the Chinese name of Lok Gaa-Fai (駱家輝).
He graduated with honors from Seattle’s Franklin High School in 1968. Locke achieved Eagle Scout and received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America.[1][3]
Through a combination of part-time jobs, financial aid and scholarships, Locke attended Yale University, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1972.[4] He then earned a law degree from the Boston University School of Law in 1975.
On October 15, 1994, Locke married Mona Lee, a former television reporter for the NBC affiliate KING 5 television in Seattle. Her father was from Shanghai, China and her mother from Hubei, China. The Lockes have three children: Emily Nicole, born in March 1997, Dylan James, born in March 1999 and Madeline Lee, born in November 2004.[citation needed]
Political career
In 1982, Locke's South Seattle district elected him to the Washington House of Representatives, where he served as chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Eleven years later, in 1993, Locke made history by becoming the first Chinese American to be elected King County's County Executive, defeating incumbent Tim Hill. In 1996, he won the primary and general elections for governor, becoming the first Chinese American state governor in United States history. His political committee was fined $2,500 by regulators in 1997 after admitting to state campaign finance law violations during his successful 1996 campaign.[2] Locke easily won re-election in the 2000 governor's race.
Democrats criticized Locke for embracing the Republican Party's no-new-taxes approach to dealing with Washington's budget woes during and after the 2001 economic turmoil. Among his spending-reduction proposals were laying off thousands of state employees; reducing health coverage; freezing most state employees' pay; and cutting funding for nursing homes and programs for the developmentally disabled. In his final budget, Locke suspended two voter-passed, pro-school initiatives while cutting state education funding. That same state budget, though, had record-high allocations for construction projects.
Supported by the state's political left, former Washington Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge announced his plans to challenge Locke in the 2004 Democratic primary. Talmadge ended his campaign early for health reasons.
On the national stage, Democrats saw Gary Locke as a rising star and a possible vice-presidential pick. He was chosen to give his party's response to George W. Bush's 2003 State of the Union address.[5] In 1997, Gov. Locke was a guest at that year's State of the Union.[6]
Leaving office
In a surprise move, Locke announced in July 2003 that he would not seek a third term,[7] saying, "Despite my deep love of our state, I want to devote more time to my family."[7]
Susan Paynter, a columnist at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, suggested that slurs, insults, and threats that Locke and his family received, especially the large number which came after his rebuttal to George W. Bush's 2003 State of the Union address, played a role in Locke's decision to leave office after two terms.[8] The governor's office received hundreds of threatening letters and e-mails; others threatened to kill his children.[8]
Locke left office on January 12, 2005. If the disputed 2004 election between Christine Gregoire and Dino Rossi had not been resolved by then, the state constitution mandated that Locke would have remained in office.[9]
After leaving office, Locke joined the Seattle office of international law firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, in their China and governmental-relations practice groups. During the leadup to the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, Governor Locke signed on as Washington co-chairman of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's bid for president.[10]
United States Secretary of Commerce nomination
On December 4, 2008, the Associated Press reported that Locke was a potential candidate for Secretary of the Interior in then-President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet. Eventually, Ken Salazar was nominated instead.
On February 25, 2009, Locke was announced as President Barack Obama's choice for Secretary of Commerce.[2] If confirmed, Locke would become the first Chinese American Secretary of Commerce, and the third Asian American in Obama's cabinet, joining Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, the most of any administration in United States history.
Footnotes
1. a b Robinson, Sean (January 2, 2005). "Middle man: Gov. Gary Locke’s eight years in office showed hard work, if no real flash". The News Tribune (Tacoma). http://dwb.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/4395122p-4172791c.html. Retrieved on October 17, 2007.
Gary Locke
駱家輝
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United States Secretary of Commerce-designate
Taking office
TBD
President Barack Obama
Succeeding Carlos Gutierrez
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21st Governor of Washington
In office
January 15, 1997 – January 12, 2005
Lieutenant Brad Owen
Preceded by Mike Lowry
Succeeded by Christine Gregoire
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5th King County Executive
In office
January 4, 1994 – January 15, 1997
Preceded by Tim Hill
Succeeded by Ron Sims
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Member of the Washington House of Representatives
from the 37th district
In office
January 10, 1983 – January 3, 1994
Preceded by Peggy Joan Maxie
Succeeded by Vivian Caver
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Born January 21, 1950 (1950-01-21) (age 59)
Seattle, Washington
Political party Democratic
Spouse Mona Lee Locke
(李矇/Lĭ Méng)
Alma mater Yale University
Boston University
Religion Baptist
Gary Locke
Traditional Chinese: 駱家輝
Simplified Chinese: 骆家辉
Cantonese Jyutping: Lok3 Gaa1-fai1
Contents
1 Family and education
2 Political career
2.1 Leaving office
2.2 United States Secretary of Commerce nomination
3 Footnotes
4 External links
Family and education
Locke was born on January 21, 1950 in Seattle, Washington. A third-generation American with paternal ancestry from Taishan, Guangdong in China, Locke is the second of five children of James, a native of the United States, and Julie Locke from Hong Kong. His parents gave him the Chinese name of Lok Gaa-Fai (駱家輝).
He graduated with honors from Seattle’s Franklin High School in 1968. Locke achieved Eagle Scout and received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award from the Boy Scouts of America.[1][3]
Through a combination of part-time jobs, financial aid and scholarships, Locke attended Yale University, earning a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1972.[4] He then earned a law degree from the Boston University School of Law in 1975.
On October 15, 1994, Locke married Mona Lee, a former television reporter for the NBC affiliate KING 5 television in Seattle. Her father was from Shanghai, China and her mother from Hubei, China. The Lockes have three children: Emily Nicole, born in March 1997, Dylan James, born in March 1999 and Madeline Lee, born in November 2004.[citation needed]
Political career
In 1982, Locke's South Seattle district elected him to the Washington House of Representatives, where he served as chairman of the Appropriations Committee. Eleven years later, in 1993, Locke made history by becoming the first Chinese American to be elected King County's County Executive, defeating incumbent Tim Hill. In 1996, he won the primary and general elections for governor, becoming the first Chinese American state governor in United States history. His political committee was fined $2,500 by regulators in 1997 after admitting to state campaign finance law violations during his successful 1996 campaign.[2] Locke easily won re-election in the 2000 governor's race.
Democrats criticized Locke for embracing the Republican Party's no-new-taxes approach to dealing with Washington's budget woes during and after the 2001 economic turmoil. Among his spending-reduction proposals were laying off thousands of state employees; reducing health coverage; freezing most state employees' pay; and cutting funding for nursing homes and programs for the developmentally disabled. In his final budget, Locke suspended two voter-passed, pro-school initiatives while cutting state education funding. That same state budget, though, had record-high allocations for construction projects.
Supported by the state's political left, former Washington Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge announced his plans to challenge Locke in the 2004 Democratic primary. Talmadge ended his campaign early for health reasons.
On the national stage, Democrats saw Gary Locke as a rising star and a possible vice-presidential pick. He was chosen to give his party's response to George W. Bush's 2003 State of the Union address.[5] In 1997, Gov. Locke was a guest at that year's State of the Union.[6]
Leaving office
In a surprise move, Locke announced in July 2003 that he would not seek a third term,[7] saying, "Despite my deep love of our state, I want to devote more time to my family."[7]
Susan Paynter, a columnist at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, suggested that slurs, insults, and threats that Locke and his family received, especially the large number which came after his rebuttal to George W. Bush's 2003 State of the Union address, played a role in Locke's decision to leave office after two terms.[8] The governor's office received hundreds of threatening letters and e-mails; others threatened to kill his children.[8]
Locke left office on January 12, 2005. If the disputed 2004 election between Christine Gregoire and Dino Rossi had not been resolved by then, the state constitution mandated that Locke would have remained in office.[9]
After leaving office, Locke joined the Seattle office of international law firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, in their China and governmental-relations practice groups. During the leadup to the 2008 Democratic presidential primary, Governor Locke signed on as Washington co-chairman of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's bid for president.[10]
United States Secretary of Commerce nomination
On December 4, 2008, the Associated Press reported that Locke was a potential candidate for Secretary of the Interior in then-President-elect Barack Obama's cabinet. Eventually, Ken Salazar was nominated instead.
On February 25, 2009, Locke was announced as President Barack Obama's choice for Secretary of Commerce.[2] If confirmed, Locke would become the first Chinese American Secretary of Commerce, and the third Asian American in Obama's cabinet, joining Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, the most of any administration in United States history.
Footnotes
1. a b Robinson, Sean (January 2, 2005). "Middle man: Gov. Gary Locke’s eight years in office showed hard work, if no real flash". The News Tribune (Tacoma). http://dwb.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/4395122p-4172791c.html. Retrieved on October 17, 2007.
2. a b c Sidoti, Liz (February 25, 2009). "Obama chooses Locke to run Commerce Department". Yahoo! News. Associated Press. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090225/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_commerce. Retrieved on 2009-02-25.
3. Townley, Alvin. Legacy of Honor: The Values and Influence of America's Eagle Scouts. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 5, 35–45. ISBN 0-312-36653-1. http://www.thomasdunnebooks.com/TD_TitleDetail.aspx?ISBN=0312366531. Retrieved on December 19, 2006.
4. "Biography of Governor Gary Locke". Who's Who of Asian Americans. http://www.asianamerican.net/bios/Locke-Gary.html. Retrieved on November 9, 2008.
5. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (2003-01-15). Democractic Leaders Announce Governor Gary Locke Will Deliver the Democratic Response to State of the Union Address. Press release. http://www.house.gov/pelosi/prGovGaryLocke011503.htm. Retrieved on 2009-02-24. "Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced today that Governor Gary Locke of Washington state will deliver the Democratic response to President Bush’s State of the Union address."
6. Clinton, Bill (1997-02-04). "Remarks By The President In State Of The Union Address". The White House. http://clinton2.nara.gov/WH/SOU97/. Retrieved on 2009-02-24. "Gary Locke, the newly elected Governor of Washington State, is the first Chinese American governor in the history of our country. He's the proud son of two of the millions of Asian American immigrants who have strengthened America with their hard work, family values and good citizenship. He represents the future we can all achieve. Thank you, Governor, for being here. Please stand up."
7. a b Washington State Office of the Governor (2003-07-21). Gov. Gary Locke Announces He Will Not Seek a Third Term. Press release. http://www.digitalarchives.wa.gov/governorlocke/press/press-view.asp?pressRelease=1403&newsType=1. Retrieved on 2009-02-24.
8. a b Paynter, Susan (July 26, 2003). "Threats to Locke's family are a factor in third-term decision". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/paynter/132272_paynter25.html. Retrieved on December 17, 2007.
9. Staff reporter (2004-12-23). "Wash. Recount Favors Democratic Challenger". Associated Press. http://www.redorbit.com/news/general/113536/wash_recount_favors_democratic_challenger/. Retrieved on 2009-02-24. "If the legal fighting does not produce a new governor by the scheduled Jan. 12 inauguration, lame-duck Gov. Gary Locke, a Democrat, may have to stick around. That is because of a provision of the state constitution that says the governor's term of office is four years "and until his successor is elected and qualified."
10. Ammons, David (October 7, 2007). "Ex-governor Locke named Clinton state co-chair". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003932467_weblocke07m.html. Retrieved on October 17, 2007.
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