Slog

News & Arts

Line Out

Music & the City
at Night

« What's Mitt Romney Doing Now? | Bad Sex Nominees Announced »

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Nepotism To College Board, Gregoire Appoints Gregoire

Posted by Dominic Holden on Tue, Nov 20, 2012 at 4:53 PM

That nepotism tag doesn't come in handy much. But when it does, man, it's just the thing.

Seattle Community Colleges, a conglomerate of post-secondary schools and vocational institutes funded by the state, announced today two new members of its board of trustees. Appointed by Governor Chris Gregoire, the new members are Carmen Gayton, a Windermere Real Estate broker who also worked for the Weyerhaeuser Company, and—uh—Courtney Gregoire.

Hmmm... that unusual last name sure sounds like the last name of the woman who appointed her. But the bio in the press release makes no mention that she's the governor's daughter:

Courtney Gregoire is an attorney with Microsoft Corp., whose wide-ranging career in public service includes work as a legislative director in the U. S. Senate and as Deputy Chief of Staff for the U.S. Department of Commerce. While working in Washington, D.C, she also served with the National Democratic Institute and maintained her ties to Seattle, serving with the University of Washington Center for Women & Democracy. Trustee Gregoire is a graduate of Willamette University and Harvard Law School, and began her law career at K&L Gates.

Courtney Gregoire surely has the qualifications to serve on the board. But, you know, lacking full disclosure—Seattle Community Colleges didn't immediately respond to questions about the accidental omission—we'll do it for them.

FacebookShare

Comments (13) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

It's a press release. Hence it's short. There's no expectation of enumerating all the tangential facts in a press release.

Posted by Phoebe in Wallingford on November 20, 2012 at 6:54 PM

Is this something we care about? Gregoire is on her way out the door. I'm not sure I'd respect her if she didn't exploit her final days for personal gain. This seems less unscrupulous than pardoning friends.

Posted by ourkind on November 20, 2012 at 7:02 PM

I'm less concerned about the blatant nepotism than I am about the fact that the governor appointed a real estate broker and an attorney to the board of trustees of a college. Just what we need in higher education: managers who have zero experience in education.

Posted by Reverse Polarity on November 20, 2012 at 8:53 PM

Feel like Serfs yet?

Posted by Will in Seattle

on November 20, 2012 at 9:13 PM

Seattle is a circular conga line of people sniffing each others dingle berries and praising same as lilacs.

Posted by Supreme Ruler Of The Universe

on November 20, 2012 at 9:47 PM

"Courtney Gregoire surely has the qualifications to serve on the board." What makes you say so? She's only been an attorney for about 6 years. I don't know of many other 6-year attorneys who have a last name other than Gregoire who would get such an appointment.

Posted by Sister Quackenmeyer on November 20, 2012 at 10:02 PM

Right, Phoebe. The fact that a gubernatorial appointee is the governor's daughter is a "tangential fact". Do you ever pause, before typing such strands of nonsense words, to ask yourself: what does what I am about to type actually _mean_?

Posted by Quintus Slide on November 20, 2012 at 11:14 PM

@5

You do realize that Gregoire is governor of the entire state, right? And that she works in Olympia, not Seattle? Getting the facts straight will make your awesome burns awesomer.

Posted by emor on November 21, 2012 at 12:23 AM

@3, for what it's worth, have no fears about Carmen Gayton. She's quite awesome, and her husband's a real powerhouse. The Gaytons have been lending a hand around town for almost 125 years now. Appointing Carmen keeps our community college system connected to the broad range of resources it needs.

Posted by gloomy gus on November 21, 2012 at 12:44 AM

Two questions: Who made the nominations? What, if anything, does the appointment pay?

Also, agree with @3

Posted by cheakamus on November 21, 2012 at 1:46 AM

More proof that Chris "Don't call me Christine" Gregoire has a tin ear and two left feet. The proper way to setup your kids is to have someone else appoint them to such a post. (Inslee in 3 months?) Did she not make any friends during her 16 years in Olympia? She must have appointed someone else's kid to a cushy post somewhere along the way. No favors to call in?

If she truly is angling for a high profile DC gig, be assured that the GOP will throw this hamfisted move in her face.

Posted by Sir Vic on November 21, 2012 at 7:42 AM

@7: You're being obtuse. I was adding a dash of sarcastic spice. Also, it's not nepotism like she's a hiring her daughter into her own business.
I applaud the college for the not mentioning it out out of respect for Courtney as she builds her career. Anyone with half a brain can do a search and find out immediately that she's the governor's daughter.

Posted by Phoebe in Wallingford on November 21, 2012 at 8:24 AM

Wow, the Board of Trustees of the Community College? Don't they, like, regulate all of our lives? I mean, they wield enormous power, and earn fabulous salaries, enjoy Secret Service protection and junket afar on lavish foreign trips, right? Oh, wait, you mean, this is more like a mediocre nonprofit board where you're expected to raise money and do grunt work like figure out how to get support from institutions like Microsoft and the Legislature. Well, then, you're right. Someone who is connected to those institutions would be a stupid pick.

Posted by the idiot formerly known as kk on November 21, 2012 at 2:49 PM