Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) officials are grinning and wringing their hands with glee following Gov. Gary Locke’s reported announcement that he may embark on a building career.

“I would love to see Governor Locke in the homebuilding business,” says BIAW President Gary Cronce. “He would face the same hurdle other builders face.”

Cronce revels in all the ironies he sees in the possibility of Locke facing skyrocketing workers’ compensation rates and difficulty paying for liability insurance.

Cronce says that it has become so difficult for builders to get liability insurance required by contractor registration law, that many builders have gone out of business, while others break the law by operating unregistered. He adds that during the past two years, builders have shouldered a 40 percent increase in workers’ compensation rates.

BIAW officials also point out that, if Locke joins the industry, he will benefit from the organization’s opposition to several pieces of the governor’s pet legislation.

Two years ago, BIAW was part of rolling back an unemployment tax insurance increase levied against homebuilders. They were also among business organizations that helped kill state Department of Labor and Industries’ ergonomics rules. BIAW officials claim Locke actively campaigned against BIAW efforts to repeal both.

“I think it would really change his perspective on the homebuilding industry – he would experience firsthand how hard it is has become to stay in business when your business is building homes,” says Cronce. “Who knows, Locke may even decide to join BIAW.”.