WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama intends to nominate former Washington Gov. Gary Locke to be commerce secretary today in Obama’s third try to fill the job.
Locke, a Democrat, became the nation’s first Chinese-American governor when he took office in 1997 and served two terms. Obama planned to make the announcement today, said an administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the appointment has not been made public.
News of the appointment drew quick applause from fellow Washington state Democrats.
“Who better than Gary to understand international trade and our relationship with China? He gets it better than anyone,” Gov. Chris Gregoire said Tuesday. Asked if she expected Locke to be confirmed, Gregoire said: “If Gary Locke cannot be confirmed, I don’t think anybody can get confirmed.”
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., also praised Locke’s selection.
“Obviously a lot of growth in our economy is through exports, and obviously he knows how important exports can be for big sectors like Boeing and Microsoft and agriculture. And he might be the first Commerce secretary who comes into office with some understanding of fish,” she said.
The Commerce Department oversees the National Marine Fisheries Service.
Obama originally nominated New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, but Richardson withdrew in January, before Obama took office, after the disclosure that a grand jury was investigating allegations of wrongdoing in the awarding of state contracts to political donors.
Obama then turned to Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, who balked after a week as the nominee. Gregg cited “irresolvable conflicts” with the policies of the Democratic president.
Locke, 59, was born into an immigrant family and lived in a Seattle public housing project until he was 6. He graduated from Yale University, which he attended with a combination of scholarships and financial aid, and Boston University Law School.
Since leaving office, Locke has worked for the Seattle-based law firm Davis Wright Tremaine on issues involving China, energy and governmental relations.
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