King County Executive Dow Constantine announced six new appointments to the Sound Transit board today—three new members and three reappointments. The new members are Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn (as expected, McGinn was appointed instead of Seattle City Council member Mike O'Brien, who also expressed interest in serving on the board); Bellevue City Council member Claudia Balducci (a strong light rail proponent who was reportedly in competition with ex-Bellevue mayor and current Bellevue City Council member Grant Degginger); and just-appointed King County Council member Jan Drago.

Drago's appointment isn't exactly a surprise (Constantine reportedly wanted to preserve representation from his former county council district, the Eighth), but it is newsworthy in light of the fact that Drago was appointed only because county council member Larry Phillips, a foe of Constantine's in the August primary election, flipped his vote and joined the county council's four Republicans in supporting Drago as a "caretaker" in the seat until November. Constantine had supported state Sen. Joe McDermott (D-34), who will run for the seat in November.