King County Council
Encyclopedia
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 transport
ation.
all elective offices of King County are officially nonpartisan
, that being said as County Council elections have not occurred since the passage of this amendment, the party affiliations of members are listed here as they were most recently elected.
located at 516 Third Avenue between James and Jefferson in downtown Seattle.
basis, and had to declare their political party unless they filed as an Independent
. An independent candidate must receive at least 20 percent of the vote in the Primary Election
to qualify for the General Election
ballot. This changed upon the passage of Charter Amendment 8 by voters in 2008, which made all elections for county offices nonpartisan
. All members will be nonpartisan after they are next elected, which will be in 2009 for odd numbered districts and 2011 for even numbered districts.
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.
County council
A county council is the elected administrative body governing an area known as a county. This term has slightly different meanings in different countries.-United Kingdom:...
, the legislative body of King County, Washington
King County, Washington
King County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. The population in the 2010 census was 1,931,249. King is the most populous county in Washington, and the 14th most populous in the United States....
, 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
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
and public transport
Public transport
Public transport is a shared passenger transportation service which is available for use by the general public, as distinct from modes such as taxicab, car pooling or hired buses which are not shared by strangers without private arrangement.Public transport modes include buses, trolleybuses, trams...
ation.
Councilmembers
As a result of a County Charter amendment passed by voters on 4 November 2008United States elections, 2008
The 2008 United States general elections were held on November 4. The result was a significant victory for the Democratic Party on the national level, as they increased majorities in both houses of Congress and won the Presidency. Democrat Barack Obama defeated Republican John McCain in the...
all elective offices of King County are officially nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
, that being said as County Council elections have not occurred since the passage of this amendment, the party affiliations of members are listed here as they were most recently elected.
- Bob FergusonBob Ferguson (politician)Bob Ferguson is a member of the King County Council, the nonpartisan legislative body for King County, Washington. Ferguson represents Council District 1, which includes northeast Seattle, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell, and part of Woodinville....
(D), District 1 - Larry GossettLarry GossettLarry Gossett is an American politician. He is a member of the King County Council, representing District 2...
(D), District 2 - Kathy LambertKathy LambertKathy Lambert is a United States Non-partisan member of the King County Council, the legislative body for King County, Washington. Lambert is in her second full term representing the third district, which includes North Bend, Snoqualmie, Issaquah, Sammamish, Fall City, Preston, Duvall, Redmond,...
(R), District 3 - Larry PhillipsLarry Phillips (politician)Larry Phillips is a Democratic member of the King County Council in Washington state. Phillips has served on the Council since 1991, representing the fourth district, which includes the Seattle neighborhoods of Queen Anne, Magnolia, Ballard, Fremont, Belltown, Capitol Hill, Montlake, and Downtown....
(D), District 4 - Julia PattersonJulia PattersonJulia Patterson is the chair of the King County Council's Budget Committee.A graduate of the University of Washington with a B.A. in English, Patterson launched her political career by assisting in the effort to incorporate the City of Seatac. In 1989 she was elected as a founding member of the...
(D), District 5 - Jane HagueJane HagueJane Hague is a current member of the Metropolitan King County Council in Washington state in the United States. She represents District 6, which encompasses the cities and towns of Beaux Arts, Bellevue, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Kirkland, Medina, Mercer Island, Redmond, and Yarrow Bay....
(R), District 6 - Pete von ReichbauerPete von ReichbauerPete von Reichbauer is a member of the King County Council, representing District 7. von Reichbauer served as a member of the Washington State Senate, representing the 30th District between 1973 and 1993....
(R), District 7 - Joe McDermottJoe McDermott (politician)J. Joseph McDermott , usually known as Joe McDermott, is an American politician from the state of Washington and a member of King County Council, representing the 8th district...
, (D), District 8 - Reagan DunnReagan DunnReagan Dunn is an American member of the King County Council, representing the ninth district of King County, Washington. He was appointed to the council in 2005, after then Councilmember Rob McKenna was elected State Attorney General. Dunn was elected to his first full term in November 2005...
(R), District 9
Meetings
The County Council meets weekly at 1:30 p.m. on Mondays (or on Tuesdays following a Monday holiday). Meetings are held in the County Council chambers, Room 1001, on the tenth floor of the King County CourthouseKing County Courthouse
The King County Courthouse is the administrative building housing the judicial branch of King County, Washington government. It is located in downtown Seattle, Washington, just north of Pioneer Square...
located at 516 Third Avenue between James and Jefferson in downtown Seattle.
Structure
Nine Councilmembers are elected by district to four-year terms. Councilmembers in even numbered districts are up for election in 2011, while Councilmembers in odd districts are up for election in 2009. Councilmembers were elected on a partisanPolitical Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
basis, and had to declare their political party unless they filed as an Independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
. An independent candidate must receive at least 20 percent of the vote in the Primary Election
Primary election
A primary election is an election in which party members or voters select candidates for a subsequent election. Primary elections are one means by which a political party nominates candidates for the next general election....
to qualify for the General Election
General election
In a parliamentary political system, a general election is an election in which all or most members of a given political body are chosen. The term is usually used to refer to elections held for a nation's primary legislative body, as distinguished from by-elections and local elections.The term...
ballot. This changed upon the passage of Charter Amendment 8 by voters in 2008, which made all elections for county offices nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
. All members will be nonpartisan after they are next elected, which will be in 2009 for odd numbered districts and 2011 for even numbered districts.
The Council uses its committee structure to consider the legislation before it. Ordinances
Local ordinance
A local ordinance is a law usually found in a municipal code.-United States:In the United States, these laws are enforced locally in addition to state law and federal law.-Japan:...
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
Seattle City Council
The Seattle City Council is committed to ensuring that Seattle, Washington, is safe, livable and sustainable. Nine Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms in nonpartisan elections and represent the entire city, elected by all Seattle voters....
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
King County Executive
The King County Executive is the highest elected official representing the government of King County, Washington, USA. The post was established with the implementation of the Home Rule Charter for King County on November 5, 1968...
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.