Gov. assigns advisor to "keep" Boeing, jet biz in state

Published 4:18 pm Friday, February 13, 2009

Gov. Gregoire has assigned a special advisor on aerospace to serve for the next six months.

Bill Sherry is on loan from the Puget Sound Regional Council and has served on the Aerospace Futures Alliance board.

“Boeing is a cornerstone of our state’s economy and we must do everything possible to ensure the company remains competitive,” Gregoire said, in a press release.

Also from the press statement: Sherry “will focus on working with Boeing and the aerospace community to keep and increase commercial and military aircraft production in Washington.”

Boeing expressed frustration with Washington state and the unions during the Machinists’ strike this summer. And the company looked elsewhere before assembling the 787 here.

Earlier this week, analyst Richard Aboulafia speculated that Boeing won’t build its next new jet here. Aerospace Futures Alliance leader Linda Lanham pounded home that same message. And Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon noted his concerns about landing a (rumored) second 787 line in Everett.

Reader question: Will Washington lose Boeing?