Former Washington State Governor Gary Locke endorses Hillary...

Ex-governor Locke named Clinton state co-chair

By DAVID AMMONS

AP Political Writer

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Former Gov. Gary Locke, the nation's first Chinese-American governor, has signed on as state co-chairman of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton's bid for president.

Locke will join King County Executive Ron Sims and U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee as state co-chairmen for Clinton. Inslee is national co-chairman of Clinton's energy and environment advisers and Sims, the state's top-ranking black officeholder, is a member of the panel.

Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon also has endorsed Clinton.

Locke and the Clinton campaign announced his endorsement in an interview with The Associated Press ahead of a planned announcement Monday.

"Gary was a visionary governor and he will be a tremendous asset to our campaign as we take our message of change across Washington," Clinton said in a prepared statement. "I'm honored to have his support."

Locke said the New York senator and former first lady "can deliver the change this country needs," and has the strength to be commander in chief as the U.S. winds down the Iraq war.