Gregoire talks to Realtors

Gov. Chris Gregoire told about 400 Washington Realtors on Thursday that she has been working to meet goals the group has for transportation, affordable housing, education and quality of life.

Gregoire, who spoke a day after Republican gubernatorial challenger Dino Rossi went before the group, cited a report in Fortune magazine and said the state is a good place to do business. She also offered encouragement for an industry slowed amid recession fears.

Gregoire, a Democrat, insisted that Washington's economy remains strong, partly because of a 50 percent increase in exports last year to about $50 billion, and that it still is a good time to buy homes. She also said the state has one of the lowest foreclosure rates nationwide.

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," Gregoire said, quoting former President Franklin Roosevelt and referring to national recession fears. "It is a very frustrating time, I know, for you, and it is for me. … I'm struggling to get the message out to Washingtonians. The economy is strong. Buy your home."

Gregoire also said she has been working to enact the recommendations of a home-security task force convened in 2007 and to counter unethical acts by shady mortgage lenders.

Her plans include $50 million for housing trust fund financing for low-income housing aid.

Gregoire said she will seek the Realtors' endorsement in July and rejected Rossi's criticism that she failed to ask lawmakers to approve any of the Affordable Housing Advisory Board's recommendations, which she had asked a task force to write.

Gregoire also said she secured $1.4 million for a "buildable-lands" report to help local governments increase the supply of homes in high-demand areas.

"Here's the question: Take shots or get something done," Gregoire said of Rossi. "I'm of the school that you ought to get something done."

Rossi's campaign spokeswoman, Jill Strait, countered that criticism in an e-mail.

"Christine Gregoire seems to continually forget the $620 million deficit we will be facing next year. She should take steps now to address our slowing economy instead of bragging about how good things are," Strait wrote.

Rossi, a former realty agent, won the group's endorsement in 2004 but lost by 133 votes to Gregoire.

Melissa Miller, a realty agent from Gig Harbor, likes Gregoire "because she has done more for the state than probably the last three governors."

Kristian Schonberg, a realty agent from Allyn in Mason County, said he will vote for Rossi again. He was skeptical of Gregoire's claim she was addressing affordable housing.

"If it was true, we'd see more affordable housing and a better quality of life," he said.