King County Council Member Dow  Constantine is going to run for KC County Executive, a position that's wide open now that the incumbent, Ron Sims, announced he's taking a job with the Obama adminstration (at HUD) in DC. 

On January 27, before Sims announced he was going to DC, Larry Phillips, Constantine's council colleague, announced his plans to run for the seat.

Constantine, who represents District 8—which includes West Seattle, Vashon Island, Burien, SoDo, Pioneer Sqaure, Beacon Hill—has been on the Council since getting appointed in 2002. He's been elected three times since, last in 2005. Although, his campaigns have always been against nominal competition.  

Constantine has taken his highest profile positions standing up for growth management against angry opposition in eastern King County and, along with Phillips, he's been a strong supporter of building and expanding light rail.