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Constantine Flow Chart
King County Council member Dow Constantine's successful run for King County Executive will soon unleash a domino effect of political vacancies.
Up first, obviously, is Constantine's own King County Council seat. That position will be filled by a vote of the remaining eight members of the county council—four Republicans (until the council became ostensibly "nonpartisan" last year, that is) and four Democrats. Expect the jockeying for that position to get intense: Democratic state representatives Sharon Nelson (D-34), Joe McDermott (D-34), and Zach Hudgins (D-11) are all reportedly in contention; Nelson, a former Constantine staffer, may face opposition from Constantine opponents, like Larry Phillips, on the council.
Up second, if Constantine is replaced by one of those state representatives, is replacing that person in the legislature. That person would be chosen by the King County Council from a slate of three candidates chosen by the precinct committee officers in the former legislator's district (in this example, either the 34th or the 11th). No names yet for that candidate, but we'll let you know as soon as I hear.
Meanwhile, as mentioned earlier, state Sen. Fred Jarrett (D-41) will need to be replaced on a relative fast track, certainly before the next legislative session starts in mid-January. Assuming she wants it, state Rep. Marcie Maxwell (D-41) seems almost certain to nab that seat (chosen by the same process outlined for choosing a new state representative above), leaving a gap in the house. Her replacement, similarly, would ultimately be chosen from a PCO-picked slate of three by the county council.
Names on the list so far: Democratic Party activist Aaron Belenky (likely to be popular with party PCOs), unsuccessful pro-transit Bellevue City Council candidate Vicky Orrico (who may be hamstrung by her lack of experience in elective office), and new Mercer Island City Council member Mike Grady (a long shot, given that his job at the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration doesn't allow him to hold partisan office).
Up first, obviously, is Constantine's own King County Council seat. That position will be filled by a vote of the remaining eight members of the county council—four Republicans (until the council became ostensibly "nonpartisan" last year, that is) and four Democrats. Expect the jockeying for that position to get intense: Democratic state representatives Sharon Nelson (D-34), Joe McDermott (D-34), and Zach Hudgins (D-11) are all reportedly in contention; Nelson, a former Constantine staffer, may face opposition from Constantine opponents, like Larry Phillips, on the council.
Up second, if Constantine is replaced by one of those state representatives, is replacing that person in the legislature. That person would be chosen by the King County Council from a slate of three candidates chosen by the precinct committee officers in the former legislator's district (in this example, either the 34th or the 11th). No names yet for that candidate, but we'll let you know as soon as I hear.
Meanwhile, as mentioned earlier, state Sen. Fred Jarrett (D-41) will need to be replaced on a relative fast track, certainly before the next legislative session starts in mid-January. Assuming she wants it, state Rep. Marcie Maxwell (D-41) seems almost certain to nab that seat (chosen by the same process outlined for choosing a new state representative above), leaving a gap in the house. Her replacement, similarly, would ultimately be chosen from a PCO-picked slate of three by the county council.
Names on the list so far: Democratic Party activist Aaron Belenky (likely to be popular with party PCOs), unsuccessful pro-transit Bellevue City Council candidate Vicky Orrico (who may be hamstrung by her lack of experience in elective office), and new Mercer Island City Council member Mike Grady (a long shot, given that his job at the federal National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration doesn't allow him to hold partisan office).
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