Drafter

Clerk 04/10/2025

Title

A MOTION establishing a process for appointing the King County executive.

Body

                     WHEREAS, in 2024, Executive Constantine designated deputy executive Shannon Braddock as his first choice to serve as the interim executive should he no longer be able fulfill his duties as King County executive, and

                     WHEREAS, Dow Constantine resigned the position of King County executive effective March 31, 2025, and

                     WHEREAS, by operation of the King County Charter, Shannon Braddock became the interim King County executive on April 1, 2025, and

                     WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 680.10 of the King County Charter, on April 1, 2025, the King County council selected Shannon Braddock to temporarily serve as acting King County executive, and

                     WHEREAS, when Executive Constantine designated Shannon Braddock as his preferred selection to serve as the interim executive, Executive Constantine also designated, in order of precedence, Dwight Dively, Karan Gill, Whitney Abram, and Jennifer Hills to serve as interim executive, should Ms. Braddock be unable to serve in that position, and

                     WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 680.10 of the King County Charter and pursuant to general law for nonpartisan county elective offices, the council shall appoint a qualified person to hold the office of King County executive until a successor has been elected at the general election on November 4, 2025, and the successor has been qualified, and

                     WHEREAS, the challenges facing an appointed county executive during the intervening months before the November election will be enormous and might include a substantial budget shortfall as well as unprecedented uncertainty in the federal government, and

                     WHEREAS, the council desires a recommendation from leaders within King County to inform the council's deliberations on the matter of appointing the executive, and

                     WHEREAS, the council previously established a blue-ribbon selection committee to make recommendations on appointing a King County executive when the position last became vacant in May 2009;

                     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:

                     A.  In order to inform the council's deliberations on appointing the King County executive, a blue-ribbon selection committee is hereby established for the express purpose of reviewing former executive Constantine's designees to serve as interim county executive as eligible candidates for appointment to the office of county executive.  The committee shall establish an expedited process that will promptly inform the council's final decision.

                     B.  The committee shall consist of one mayor representing the southern third of King County, one mayor representing the eastern third of King County, and the mayor of Seattle, or designee, representing the western third of King County.  The work of the committee shall be facilitated by the chief of staff of the King County council who shall also serve on the committee as an ex-officio member.

                     C.  The appointed members of the committee are:

                       1.  City of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, or designee, representing the western third of King County;

                        2. Mayor _____________, representing the southern third of King County;

                       3.  Mayor _____________, representing the eastern third of King County; and

                       4.  Stephanie Cirkovich, chief of staff to the King County council. serving as facilitator and ex-officio member.

                     D.  The committee shall only review the qualifications of former executive Constantine's designees to serve as interim King County executive in the designation of July 10, 2024, Attachment A to this motion.

                     E.  The committee shall meet no later than April 25, 2025, and shall electronically file its recommendations to the council by May 7, 2025, with the clerk of the council, who shall retain an electronic copy and provide an electronic copy to all councilmembers. 

                     F.  The committee’s recommendation shall include its top choice for serving as the appointed King County executive and an alternate choice.

                     G.  The committee's recommendation shall address the positions of the top choice and alternative on substantive policy issues likely to arise during the remainder of 2025, including, but not limited to:

                       1.  Addressing the King County general fund budget deficit;

                        2.  Maintaining operations of the youth jail and alternatives to confinement;

                       3.  Public safety and criminal justice, including the operating level of the sheriff's office;

                       4.  Proposal and implementation of new taxes; and

                       5.  Implementation and governance of major capital and operational expansions including Harborview operations, the county hospital tax levy, and the Crisis Care Centers levy.

                     H.  It is the intent of the council to use the committee’s recommendation to inform its final decision when appointing the King County executive on May 13, 2025.