King County Council

Last updated

Metropolitan King County Council
King County, Washington
Metropolitan King County Council Logo.png
Type
Type
Leadership
Chairperson
Vice Chair
Vice Chair
Structure
Seats9
King County Council 2022.svg
Political groups
Officially nonpartisan
Democratic Party (7)
Republican Party (2)
Committees
List of Committees
    • Budget and Fiscal Management
    • Committee of the Whole
    • Government Accountability and Oversight
    • Employment and Administration
    • Health, Housing and Human Services
    • Law and Justice
    • Transportation, Economy and Environment
    • Regional Policy
    • Regional Transit
    • Regional Water Quality
Length of term
4 years
Elections
Last election
November 2, 2021
Meeting place
1200 King County Courthouse
516 Third Avenue
Seattle, Washington 98104
Website
King County Council

The Metropolitan King County Council , the legislative body of King County, Washington, consists of nine members elected by district. The Council adopts laws, sets policy, and holds final approval over the budget. Its current name and structure is the result of a merger of King County and the Municipality of Metropolitan Seattle, better known as Metro, which was a federated county-city structure responsible for water quality and public transportation.

Contents

Councilmembers

As a result of a County Charter amendment passed by voters in the November 2008 elections, all elective offices of King County are officially nonpartisan; that being said, all current council members have made their party affiliations a matter of public record. [1] [ better source needed ]

Meetings

The full county council meets weekly on Thursdays, except for the fifth Thursday in a month. Public comments are permitted at the fourth meeting of the month. Meetings are held in the County Council chambers, Room 1001, on the tenth floor of the King County Courthouse in Downtown Seattle. [7]

Structure

The nine members of the council are elected by their district to four-year terms in nonpartisan contests. Councilmembers in even numbered districts are up for election in 2023, while Councilmembers in odd districts are up for election in 2025. [8] Prior to 2009, councilmembers were elected on a partisan basis, and had to declare their political party unless they filed as an Independent. An independent candidate had to receive at least 20 percent of the vote in the primary election to qualify for the general election ballot.[ citation needed ] This changed upon the passage of Charter Amendment 8 by voters in 2008, which made all elections for county offices nonpartisan. [9]

The Council uses its committee structure to consider the legislation before it. Ordinances and motions (policy statements) are assigned to a King County Council committee for consideration, and then are recommended to the full Council for action. Each year, the Council reorganizes and elects a Chair and Vice Chair. In addition, the Council decides yearly on its committee structure and makeup. Currently there are nine standing policy committees and three regional committees. Members of the Seattle City Council and representatives from suburban cities and local sewer districts are also members of the regional committees. In addition, all nine members of the Council meet as a Committee of the Whole to discuss broad-reaching legislation and issues.

The King County Executive is not a member of the Council, and is a separately elected official. The Executive submits legislation to the Council for consideration. Each year in October, the Executive submits a proposed budget to the County Council for the operation of County government for the coming year. The Executive has veto power over ordinances passed by the Council.

Redistricting

In the 2004 general election voters approved a charter amendment to reduce the size of the council from thirteen to nine, which went into effect January 1, 2006. With four fewer districts, the number of constituents per district rose from 138,000 residents to about 193,000. [10]

Past Councilmembers

As of 2017 [11]
DistrictCouncilmemberPolitical party [lower-alpha 1] Term startTerm end
1Tracy Owen Republican 19691981
2Bob DunnRepublican19691979
3 Bill Reams Republican19691989
4Bernice Stern Democratic 19691980
5John O'BrienRepublican19691973
6Tom ForsytheRepublican19691975
7 Ed Munro Democratic19691973
8 Ed Heavey Democratic19691975
9Dave MooneyDemocratic19691976
5 Ruby Chow Democratic19741985
7 Paul Barden Republican19741993
6 Mike Lowry Democratic19761979
8 Bob Greive Democratic19761987
9Bob GainesDemocratic19771977
6Pat ThorpeDemocratic19791979
2 Scott Blair Republican19801983
4 Lois North Republican19801992
6Bruce LaingRepublican19801996
1 Audrey Gruger Democratic19821993
2Cynthia SullivanDemocratic19842003
5 Ron Sims Democratic19861997
8 Greg Nickels Democratic19882001
3Brian DerdowskiRepublican19901999
9 Kent Pullen Republican19902003
4 Larry Phillips Democratic19922015
1Maggie FimiaDemocratic19942001
3 Louise Miller Republican19942001
7 Pete von Reichbauer Republican1994
10 Larry Gossett Democratic19942019
11 Jane Hague Republican19942015
13 Chris Vance Republican19942001
6 Rob McKenna Republican19962005
5 Dwight Pelz Democratic19972005
12David IronsRepublican20002005
13 Les Thomas Republican20012001
1 Carolyn Edmonds Democratic20022005
3 Kathy Lambert Republican20022021
13 Julia Patterson Democratic20022013
8 Dow Constantine Democratic20022009
9Steve HammondRepublican20032005
2 Bob Ferguson Democratic20042013
9 Reagan Dunn Republican2005
8 Jan Drago Democratic20102010
8 Joe McDermott Democratic2011
1Rod DembowskiDemocratic2013
5 Dave Upthegrove Democratic2014
4 Jeanne Kohl-Welles Democratic2016
6 Claudia Balducci Democratic2016
2 Girmay Zahilay Democratic2020
3Sarah PerryDemocratic2022

Notes

  1. ↑ Although county offices in King County were made officially nonpartisan in 2008, all councillors have made their party affiliations a matter of public record. [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Los Angeles City Council</span> City council; lawmaking body of Los Angeles, U.S.

The Los Angeles City Council is the lawmaking body of Los Angeles, California, United States. It has 15 members from 15 council districts that are spread throughout the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seattle City Council</span> Legislative body of the city of Seattle, Washington

The Seattle City Council is the legislative body of the city of Seattle, Washington. The Council consists of nine members serving four-year terms, seven of which are elected by electoral districts and two of which are elected in citywide at-large positions; all elections are non-partisan. It has the sole responsibility of approving the city's budget, and develops laws and policies intended to promote the health and safety of Seattle's residents. The Council passes all legislation related to the city's police, firefighting, parks, libraries, and electricity, water supply, solid waste, and drainage utilities. (The mayor of Seattle is not considered part of council.)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeanne Kohl-Welles</span> American politician (born 1942)

Jeanne Elizabeth Pearl Kohl-Welles is an American politician and academic. She was a member of the King County Council from the 4th district from 2016 to 2024. She previously served as a member of the Washington State Senate from 1994 to 2015 and the Washington House of Representatives from 1992 to 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pete von Reichbauer</span> American politician (born 1944)

Peter G. von Reichbauer is an American businessman and politician serving as a member of the nonpartisan King County Council, representing District 7, a 124-square-mile (320 km2) region of South King County which includes all of the cities of Algona and Federal Way, the entire King County portions of Auburn, Milton, and Pacific and large unincorporated areas. Prior to his election to the council, von Reichbauer served as a Washington State Senator for the 30th Legislative District between 1973 and 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Ferguson (politician)</span> 18th Attorney General of Washington

Robert Watson Ferguson is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 18th attorney general of Washington. A member of the Democratic Party, he was first elected in 2012 and re-elected in 2016 and 2020. Prior to serving as attorney general, Ferguson was a member of the King County Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reagan Dunn</span> American politician

Reagan Blackburn Dunn is an American politician and lawyer who is a member of the nonpartisan King County Council, representing District 9 in Southeast King County, Washington. District 9 includes the cities of Bellevue, Newcastle, Renton, Maple Valley, Covington, Black Diamond, and Enumclaw, as well as large unincorporated areas.

Joseph Frederick Fain is an American attorney, businessman, and politician who served as a member of the Washington State Senate for the 47th district from 2011 to 2019. Fain was elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014. Fain served as the Senate minority floor leader during the 2018 legislative session.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teresa Mosqueda</span> Seattle politician and activist

Teresa Carmen Mosqueda is an American politician and labor activist from Seattle, Washington. She is a member of the King County Council and has represented District 8 since 2024. Mosqueda was previously a member of the Seattle City Council from 2017 to 2023, in at-large position 8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Debora Juarez</span> American politician

Debora Juarez is an American lawyer and politician serving as the president of the Seattle City Council. She was first elected in 2015 to represent the 5th district. A member of the Blackfeet Nation, she was the first Native American person elected to the council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rob Johnson (Seattle politician)</span> American politician

Robert M. Johnson is an American politician. He served on the Seattle City Council representing the fourth district, covering northeast Seattle and the area around the University of Washington, from 2016 until his resignation in April 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snohomish County Council</span> Legislative body of Snohomish County, Washington, US

The Snohomish County Council is the legislative body of Snohomish County, Washington. The county council was created in 1979 and consists of five members serving four-year terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whatcom County Council</span> Legislative body of Whatcom County, Washington, US

The Whatcom County Council, the legislative body of Whatcom County, Washington, consists of seven members, five elected by district and two elected at large. The Council adopts laws, sets policy, and holds final approval over the budget.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girmay Zahilay</span> American politician

Girmay Hadish Zahilay is an American politician and lawyer who is a member of the King County Council from District 2 in Seattle, Washington. He was elected in 2019, defeating longtime incumbent Larry Gossett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Strauss</span> American politician

Daniel Aaron Strauss is an American politician who serves on the Seattle City Council from District 6. A native of Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, he previously worked as an aide to local politicians, including Seattle councilmember Sally Bagshaw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Seattle mayoral election</span> Mayoral election in Seattle, Washington

The 2021 Seattle mayoral election was held on November 2, 2021, to elect the Mayor of Seattle. It was won by former Seattle City Council President Bruce Harrell, who defeated then-current President Lorena González; both candidates had advanced from a nonpartisan primary election on August 3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Seattle City Council election</span> Local election

The 2021 Seattle City Council election were held on November 2, 2021. Two seats of the nine-member Seattle City Council were up for election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2024 Washington gubernatorial election</span>

The 2024 Washington gubernatorial election will be held on November 5, 2024. The top-two primary will be held on August 6.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 Seattle City Attorney election</span>

The 2021 Seattle City Attorney election was held on November 2, 2021. Incumbent City Attorney Pete Holmes sought reelection to a fourth term in office, but came third place in the officially nonpartisan August 3 primary election and failed to advance to the general election, with both Nicole Thomas-Kennedy and Ann Davison finishing ahead of Holmes in the primary. Davison defeated Thomas-Kennedy in the general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sara Nelson (politician)</span> Member of Seattle City Council

Sara E. Nelson is an American businesswoman and politician serving as a member of the Seattle City Council from Position 9. A member of the Democratic Party, she defeated Nikkita Oliver in the 2021 election. On January 2, 2024, the city council voted unanimously to appoint her City Council President upon the retirement of Debora Juarez.

Jorge L. Barón is a Colombian-American politician, attorney, and former actor. He has been a member of the King County Council in Washington since 2024, representing District 4.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Board, SW Editorial (October 4, 2017). "Even in King County, the Republican Party Is One Big Gun Silencer". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Sarah Perry wins King County Council seat, ending Kathy Lambert's two-decade hold". November 4, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Gutman, David (January 9, 2024). "Barón, Mosqueda become King County Council's first Latino members". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Von Reichbauer favors nonpartisan county elections". Seattle Times.
  5. ↑ "Councilmember Reagan Dunn – Biography" . Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  6. ↑ "Attorney general's race: Republican Dunn carves his own path". Seattle Times. October 11, 2012. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  7. ↑ "Full Council Meetings". King County Council. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  8. ↑ Gutman, David (October 10, 2022). "Voters to decide whether to move King County elections to even years". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  9. ↑ Ervin, Keith (November 5, 2008). "Initiative to make top posts nonpartisan leading handily". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  10. ↑ Downing, Jim (January 4, 2005). "Four plans surface to shrink County Council". The Seattle Times. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  11. ↑ Nickels, Greg (February 14, 2017). "King County Councilmembers, 1969-present". Historylink. Retrieved October 2, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.