King County Executive

Last updated

King County Executive
Thumbnail KCC Zahilay Edit 022 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Girmay Zahilay
since November 25, 2025
AppointerElectorate
Metropolitan King County Council (unexpired terms)
Term length 4 years
Inaugural holder John Spellman
FormationNovember 5, 1968 (charter approved)
May 1, 1969 (charter took effect)
Salary$280,584 (2024)
Website King County Executive

The King County Executive is the elected county executive of King County, Washington. The office was established with the implementation of a home rule charter for King County on November 5, 1968. The executive's powers were originally vested in a three-member county commission, which was eliminated in the home rule charter and replaced by the King County Council. [1] The county executive is elected every four years and the office is nonpartisan.

Contents

The first county executive was John Spellman, from 1969 to 1981. The current executive is Girmay Zahilay, who served on the King County Council prior to his election. [2]

Powers and responsibilities

The King County Executive holds all executive power of the county which are not expressly vested in other specific elective officers. [3] All administrative offices and departments in the executive branch are supervised and assigned duties by the county executive. The county executive holds the responsibility as the chief peace officer and must execute and enforce all ordinances and state statues within King County. They are also responsible for presenting the county council with an annual statement of the financial and governmental affairs from the previous year along with a budget for the next fiscal year. The county executive has the power to veto ordinances adopted by the county council. The county executive is also responsible for signing all deeds, contracts, and other instruments on behalf of the county. [3]

History

In 1853, Washington operated under territorial law where the administration of each county was governed by an elected three-member board of county commissioners. [4] Under this law, the commissioners held greater legislative and executive powers. They passed laws, appropriated money, established tax cuts, ran county departments, and appointed county officials. [1] Under the provisions of a home rule law passed by the Washington State Legislature in 1948, King County adopted a new charter in 1968 that created the position of county executive and a nine-member county council to serve as the legislative branch of government. [4] In 1969, John Spellman was elected to office as the first county executive. [5]

Elections

Elections for the County Executive have historically taken place in odd-numbered years. However, in 2022, an amendment to the County Charter was passed which would move elections for several county elected offices to even-numbered years. To do so, the 2025 election will be for a three-year term, instead of the normal four years. [6]

List of executives

OrderKing County ExecutiveParty [a] Took officeLeft officeTermsNotes
1 JohnDSpellman.jpg John Spellman   Republican May 1, 1969January 14, 19813+Resigned to serve as Governor of Washington
2 3x4.svg Ron Dunlap   Republican January 14, 1981 [b] November 18, 1981<1
3
Randy Revelle 01.jpg
Randy Revelle   Democratic November 18, 1981January 1, 19861
4 KCE Tim Hill.jpg Tim Hill   Republican January 1, 1986January 4, 19942
5 Gary Locke.jpg Gary Locke   Democratic January 4, 1994January 15, 1997<1Resigned to serve as Governor of Washington
6 Ron Sims official portrait.jpg Ron Sims   Democratic January 15, 1997 [b] [c] May 8, 20092+Resigned to serve as Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
7 3x4.svg Kurt Triplett  Democratic May 8, 2009 [b] November 24, 2009<1Served briefly following Ron Sims' resignation [7]
8 Dow Constantine (19090348039).jpg Dow Constantine   Democratic November 24, 2009March 31, 20254Resigned to serve as CEO of Sound Transit. [8]
9 3x4.svg Shannon Braddock   Democratic April 1, 2025 [d] November 25, 2025<1Served briefly following Dow Constantine's resignation [9]
10 Thumbnail KCC Zahilay Edit 022 (cropped).jpg Girmay Zahilay   Democratic November 25, 2025 [e] Incumbent<1

Notes

  1. ↑ The office of King County Executive is elected on a non-partisan basis, the following is for informational purposes only.
  2. 1 2 3 Appointed to serve out remainder of term
  3. ↑ Subsequently elected to full four-year term
  4. ↑ Appointed as interim executive and awaiting confirmation as acting executive.
  5. ↑ Zahilay was sworn in early due to Braddock being an interim appointee.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gutman, David (November 25, 2025). "Girmay Zahilay sworn in as King County executive". The Seattle Times . Retrieved November 25, 2025.
  2. 1 2 "King County Charter" (PDF). King County. January 10, 2023. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  3. 1 2 "King County legislative history". King County Executive Services. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  4. ↑ Oldham, Kit (March 11, 2006). "Spellman, John D. (1926-2018)". HistoryLink. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
  5. ↑ Buhain, Venice (November 13, 2024). "King County Executive Dow Constantine won't run for reelection". Cascade PBS. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  6. ↑ "Council appoints Kurt Triplett as King County Executive" (Press release). King County Council. May 18, 2009. Retrieved November 11, 2025.{{cite press release}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ↑ Lindblom, Mike (March 27, 2025). "Sound Transit board unites around Dow Constantine in CEO vote". The Seattle Times. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  8. ↑ "King County Council votes to confirm Shannon Braddock as acting Executive". kingcounty.gov. April 1, 2025. Retrieved November 11, 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
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