Gregoire calls for unity in Puget Sound cleanup | Story and Video

Gov. Chris Gregoire speaks at the Bremerton waterfront on Friday.

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire said Friday that she cannot clean up Puget Sound after four more years, but pledged to “embed the importance of this into the psyche of the state of Washington so that no one can ever turn us back.”

Gregoire is running against Republican Dino Rossi in her bid for a second term.

“We need to leave a better Puget Sound for our children,” she said. “In turn they can pick up the baton and leave a better Puget Sound for their children. It is a jewel, that we want to leave as a legacy to future generations.”

Gregoire spoke in Bremerton, in the last of a seven-stop Puget Sound campaign tour. She also held rallies in Tacoma, Des Moines, Seattle , Edmonds, Bainbridge Island, and near Hood Canal. She drew about 40 people to Fountain Park on the Bremerton waterfront, a new facility that she helped gain the finding to construct, according to Bremerton Mayor Cary Bozeman.

“The governor has helped us with our capital projects,” Bozeman said. “She has been very friendly.”

Bozeman said the crowd, which was mostly comprised of party faithful and local Democratic candidates, represented “a nice turnout” considering there was little advertising or publicity.”This is not a fundraiser,” he said.

Gregoire spoke warmly of U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks (D-Belfair), whom she credited with the procurement of Federal funds in order to support the cleanup of the region. She also lauded State Rep. Larry Seaquist for his ability to represent veterans and “has been an amazing leader on transportation issues.”

Gregoire spoke for about seven minutes after introductions by Seaquist and self-described "radical environmentalist” Beth Wilson.

Gregoire listed four priorities: Supporting stormwater programs, work toward common goals, preserve the most spectacular areas and prevent further degradation.

“For a time we thought that Puget Sound flushed into the ocean,” she said. “Now we know that its more like a bathtub. And it's our bathtub. Whatever we put in there stays in there. So when you ask who's responsibility is it to protect Puget Sound it is four million people. It’s not someone else's job, It's not business’ job. It's not government's job. It's everybody's job. And working together there is nothing that we cannot do.”

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