Update: King County Executive Ron Sims leaving for D.C. job

King County Executive Ron Sims had a no-subject-specified media briefing scheduled for this morning – and multiple sources report he is taking a new job with the Obama Administration. We’re not at the briefing since we’re en route to a mayoral event at West Seattle High School but will update when word comes from the executive himself. 10:34 AM UPDATE: It’s confirmed. The event we’re at includes Mayor Nickels and former mayor Norm Rice, so we should hear what they have to say about it. Read Sims’ statement at the county website. 11:27 AM UPDATE: Just talked to Mayor Nickels after the news conference. He says Sims called him with the news this morning. Will add our clip with mayor’s comment when we’re back at HQ. Rice, by the way, didn’t speak at this event after all, so no comment from him. 11:35 AM UPDATE: Just received this statement from West Seattle-residing King County Council Chair Dow Constantine:

“I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to King County Executive Ron Sims on his appointment as deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. I commend him for taking on this new challenge and stepping forward to serve our citizens as a federal official.

“I will sit down immediately with my colleagues to create a non-partisan process to choose an interim replacement to serve the remainder of Executive Sims’ term.

“An ideal appointee would possess the necessary policy experience, political skills, and management ability to help guide King County through the next several months. We need an appointed executive who can devote his or her full attention and talents to the unprecedented financial challenges facing King County.

“It is the voters of King County—not this Council—who this November will select an Executive to serve them for the next four years.”

We’ve also asked for a comment on whether he’s considering running for the job. ADDED 12:53 PM: On video, the comment we got from Mayor Nickels while he was visiting West Seattle High School this morning for an event celebrating student health centers (separate report to come):

Inspired by P-I online journalist Monica Guzman, here’s the direct link to congratulation messages being sent to Sims via Twitter.

jiggers February 2, 2009 (10:58 am)

Thank God.

Ken February 2, 2009 (10:59 am)

Last November the voters overwhelmingly decided to make the positions of King County Executive and Council non-partisan.

Well the local media should be turning handsprings.

I expect the US Chamber of Commerce, the BIWA and the Club for growth will spend hundreds of millions of dollars to convince King County voters that some wingnut with a name like Johnson or Smith is just another liberal like you and me.

Those who did not understand the party system and voted this abomination into law can prepare for their just reward.

–Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want
and deserve to get it good and hard. * H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)

old timer February 2, 2009 (11:15 am)

Well, I guess he found HIS lifeboat.

Brandon February 2, 2009 (11:22 am)

Can he take Greg with him (both of them)?

hutchbec February 2, 2009 (11:23 am)

Thanks for posting this – none of us (at my job at King County) had heard.

OP February 2, 2009 (11:38 am)

Oh what a happy day for King County residents!!! On the other hand that means he’ll be in D.C. with the ability to reach his full potential for fouling things up on a national scale. So there’s that….

File under: Careful what you wish for

Terry Smith February 2, 2009 (12:02 pm)

does this mean he owes back taxes??

J February 2, 2009 (12:16 pm)

Couldn’t have said it better, Ken!

Westwood Resident February 2, 2009 (1:55 pm)

LOL Terry!!!!!
It sure seems that way.
Ron…Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out and, if I may, i have a suggestion as to who you should pick as your COS…Greg Nickles.

Westwood Resident February 2, 2009 (1:59 pm)

Well Ken, in this city and county, where the vast majority of the people vote by party recognition (you know…the D at the end of the name) I welcome the fact that we may get people in with ideas that are good, but can’t get voted in because of the letter that follows their name.

nudibranch February 2, 2009 (2:11 pm)

Great Mencken quote, Ken. He is one of the greatest american minds and one of the least well known. Plus, he has some fabulous quotes. If anyone reading this doesn’t know Mencken, read his coverage of the Scopes trial.

JimmyG February 2, 2009 (4:15 pm)

Buh-bye Ron.

Sims presided over the decimation of King County government and is leaving when the going got tough for him budget-wise. He will NOT be missed by many of us who saw the budgetary issues looming for a long time before they did. And he claims our financial straits took him by surprise.
KC’s budget woes weren’t solely caused by the poor economy which is where Sims puts the blame.

P C February 2, 2009 (6:14 pm)

King County’s gain is the country’s loss. I saw The Great Waster at a high school basketball game in which his son was playing (a few years ago.) He was on the cell phone most of the time, not paying attention, as usual.

Admiral Janeway February 2, 2009 (7:26 pm)

The next County Exec is sure to come from the county council. But how about Dino Rossi as the interim County Executive?

Ken February 2, 2009 (8:32 pm)

Dino couldn’t get elected to dogcatcher in King County.

Christine Gregoire Prefers Democratic Party 583357 63.90%

Dino Rossi Prefers G.O.P.
Party 325820 35.69%

http://your.kingcounty.gov/elections/200811/Respage5.aspx

Ron February 2, 2009 (9:44 pm)

Yawl have said it so well, what can I add?

Bill February 2, 2009 (9:52 pm)

I agree with P C. Our gain, not good for the country. Wish they could fin a place fo Greg. Dino can’t get elected in our state. Atleast not with all the people that is presently in office. Hopefully someday