McKenna
BELLEVUE, Wash. (Legal Newsline) - Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna launched his campaign for governor Wednesday night.
McKenna told the audience at Sammamish High School, his alma mater, that under his leadership, "We'll have a government that matches our state's spirit of innovation."
The Republican attorney general spoke of charting a "new direction" for the state, focusing on job creation, bettering public schools and reforming state government so that it lives within its means.
After working as an attorney for small and large businesses in private practice, McKenna began his public service career in 1995 when he was elected to the King County Council. He was re-elected twice.
McKenna won a second term as attorney general in 2008.
He told the crowd Wednesday that for too long leaders in Olympia have followed a familiar pattern by overpromising when the economy is hot, then breaking those promises when tax revenues didn't grow as expected.
He said state government was overdue for new ideas.
"We deserve a governor who will bring us a leaner, better-run, more cost-effective and more productive state government, that doesn't demand endless tax increases before it delivers results to its bosses, the taxpayers," he said.
McKenna earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and his law degree from the University of Chicago.
He and his wife, Marilyn, have four children.
To watch a replay of his speech, visit www.robmckenna.org.
From Legal Newsline: Reach Jessica Karmasek by e-mail at jessica@legalnewsline.com.