Three days of ceremony are expected to culminate in the inaugural ball for Gov.-elect Christine Gregoire. Her narrow victory, however, is the subject of a dispute among the lawmakers who must certify her election Tuesday before she can be inaugurated Wednesday.
Nevertheless, organizers of the week's events say they expect crowds.
"I don't think we can compare this to other years, really," said Judi Hoefling, an executive member of the ball committee. Sales are down from other years, and some supporters of Gregoire's opponent, Republican Dino Rossi, have asked for refunds on tickets, she said. But the nonprofit committee will at least break even on the event.
Grand opening, oaths
The turmoil over the election has overshadowed an event two years in the making: the grand reopening of the Legislative Building, which underwent a $118 million renovation.
Present and past legislators have been invited to re-create a historic photograph of lawmakers and the building when it first opened, said Pam Hahn of the Secretary of the Senate's Office.
"They literally walked up from the old Capitol building to the new one and took this picture in 1927, and we want to duplicate that photo," she said.
Tents set up for the inaugural ball, however, won't allow lawmakers to crowd onto the Capitol steps, so the photo will be in the Capitol Rotunda at 9 a.m. Monday.
Outgoing Gov. Gary Locke will speak about the renovation project, high school choirs from around the state are scheduled to perform, and a reception will follow on the third floor.
"It's completely open to the public," Hahn said. "We are handing out programs and commemorative buttons for everyone."
The reopening is the only ceremony with plenty of space for the public.
Starting with the swearing in of legislators at noon Monday and continuing through the inaugural ball, space is limited.
"We just don't have that much room," said Rich Nafziger, chief clerk of the House.
The galleries of both the House and Senate will be packed with lawmakers' families Monday, he said.
The House will be the site of two other noon ceremonies, when the new governor and statewide officials are sworn in Wednesday, and when Locke gives his final State of the State Address on Tuesday.
"There's not swarms at the doors and people banging on the door to watch this," Nafziger said, but the legislators and officials fill the available seats with just a few tickets each for family members.
He added that TVW will carry all three events live, and they will be shown on television in the nearby John O'Brien Office Building first floor conference rooms.
The Inaugural Ball
The ball, which serves as Thurston County's traditional welcome to the new governor, also will have limited space.
Dan Neuhauser, president of the ball committee, has predicted the ball will sell out. But Hoefling said that number of people, as many as 5,000, no longer seems likely.
She said ticket sales were on track for closer to 3,500 attendees, but that figure is over the benchmark of 2,000 tickets, which covers the cost of the events if some reserve cash is used.
Ticket sales at $75 a person entirely fund the black-tie, nonpartisan event, which has been held every four years since 1853.
There have been requests for refunds from supporters of Rossi, Hoefling said. There have been no refunds in the 32 years she has been involved with the ball, but if enough tickets are sold, it might be possible in this unusual year, she said.
Adam Wilson covers state workers and politics for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-753-1688 or adawilson@ olympia.gannett.com.
Monday
-9 a.m.: Grand reopening of the Legislative Building, featuring remarks by Gov. Gary Locke, choir music and a reception open to the public on the third floor.
-9:30 a.m.: Supreme Court justices sworn into office, Temple of Justice courtroom. Some public space available, reception to follow.
-Noon: Legislators are sworn into office, Senate and House chambers. Chamber galleries are reserved for legislators' families.
Tuesday
-11:45 a.m.: Legislators certify election of statewide officials, debate over governor's race expected from Republicans, House chamber. Open to the public; space in gallery limited.
-Noon: Gov. Locke delivers his final State of the State Address in House chamber. Open to the public; space in gallery limited.
Wednesday
-Noon: Governor and other statewide elected officials sworn into office. House chamber, gallery reserved for families of elected officials.
-7 p.m.: Governor's Inaugural Ball, Legislative Building. Tickets required.