Gov. Chris Gregoire made the cover of Governing Magazine as one of the magazine's nine "Public Officials of the Year." 
With that distinction comes an effusive profile, celebrating the governor's accomplishments in office. For example, after noting the "cliffhanger" election and initial bad poll results, profiler Jonathan Walters writes:
With each passing year, Gregoire's approval rating has increased, and her standing as a deft and inclusive deal-maker has grown more solid. The list of her accomplishments would be the envy of any governor, ranging from budget surpluses to ambitious education and economic development initiatives to the resolution of some of the state's longest running legislative battles.
Most of the focus is on her skill as a negotiator and legislative player, with special attention to her Government Management Accountability and Performance program.
She also runs one of the most open state governments in the country. Her Government Measurement, Accountability and Performance (GMAP) initiative includes regular meetings featuring frank discussion among top state staff about various agencies' performance.
For folks unfamiliar with the magazine, here's the description from its website.
Governing is a monthly magazine whose primary audience is state and local government officials: the governors, mayors, legislators, council members, program directors, agency heads, policy advisors and other officials spanning the entire range of responsibility for state and local government. They are the men and women who set policy for and manage the day-to-day operations of cities, counties and states, as well as such governmental bodies as school boards and special districts.
Congratulations, Governor.
