As awesome as being deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development was, Ron Sims says he's needed elsewhere: home. Initially the announcement of the former King County Executive's departure led to some conjecture about the upcoming gubernatorial election, but Sims assured the Seattle Times that it's not in the cards right now -- although he has every intention of helping democratic Washington State US Representative Jay Inslee take office in 2012. What do you think, dear readers? more ›

Publicola's ECB reports that, wrapping up a 20-minute KUOW interview, King County Executive candidate Susan Hutchison offered what sounded like a challenge to her rival Dow Constantine: three debates, come and get it. (Constantine was making hay with Hutchison's infrequent public appearances during the primary.) But Dow told Publicola that debate arrangements are already in progress, and talks are ongoing with two TV stations about the logistics. ECB quotes Dow's comeback as: "Is she going to challenge me to a primary election next?" more ›

Publicola's ECB has a tea-leaf reading of yesterday's ballot drop that augurs well for Dow Constantine in the King County Executive's race. While Susan Hutchison (TV) is up on Dow (D) by almost 13 percent, the later ballots are trending Constantine's way. more ›

If King County Executive Kurt Triplett has his way, King County will see 39 county parks shut down and "mothballed" under lock and key come January 1, 2010. Currently the 2010 budget is in a world of hurt, with a $56 million budget shortfall. So for a quick $4.6 million, select parks in neighborhoods stretching from Federal Way to Bothell will be put out of commission. The new King County Executive better have tough skin--the toddler hatemail and crayon drawings are going to be ruthless--unless neighborhoods rally and create some sort of Adopt-a-Highway-Park program, or cities jump in and keep the taxpayer-funded parks open. more ›

• A part of University of Washington football history was lost over the weekend, when former UW coach Jim Owens (yes, he's the statue in front of Husky Stadium) died at the age of 82.
• Sporting many shades of pink, thousands were out to "Race for the Cure." Grand Marshaling the quest was SPD Lt. Robin Clark.
• Tiny dancer Louise Nadeau took the ballet stage for the last time on Sunday, as she finished her 19-year career at the Pacific Northwest Ballet with a program that naturally concluded with Swan Lake.

The 16-member Blue Ribbon Committee has made the call and is sticking with their two recommendations for the interim office of King County Executive: former Seattle Mayor Charles Royer and interim County Executive and former Executive Chief of Staff Kurt Triplett (leaving former County Council members Steve Hammond and Louise Miller off their favorites). However, the King County Council has the final say on May 18, when they choose one of the four candidates to fill the seat of the newly crowned deputy secretary of HUD, Ron Sims. more ›

• The Rainier Valley Post reports that the third (ever!) director of the Union Gospel Mission will retire at the end of the year. That's truly the end of an era.
• Capitol Hill Seattle reports on the Capitol Hill (natch) art walk, newly upgraded to something called Blitz, after a redesign led by Ellen Forney--there's a map and a Facebook page.
• If you're on Phinney Ridge on Friday night, you can see their art walk and "party in the streets."

Oh, snap! It looks like the rumors were true--the Times reports that Ron Sims, current King County Executive, will indeed be heading to Washington D.C. to take a federal job as Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The position is nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. We found a handy HUD organizational flowchart [pdf] showing generally where Sims' new job will fit into the hierarchy; the department's mission is "to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination," according to HUD.gov . The news means that Sims will not be running for a fourth term as King County Executive, leaving councilman Larry Phillips running for the seat as of yet unopposed. UPDATE: Sims just released his official statement on the nomination. more ›

Yesterday, King County councilman Larry Phillips officially announced his run for the King County Executive seat--an elected position currently held by Ron Sims, who may or may not be campaigning for a fourth term. Phillips accused Sims of losing focus on King County business, though the executive has issued formal statements re-affirming his dedication to local issues. Sims is rumored to be jonesing for a federal appointment within the Obama administration. more ›

King County Executive Ron Sims has been discouraged by Washington state Dems leader Dwight Pelz and others from seeking yet another term in 2009. According to the scoop in the Seattle Times, "Critics have pointed to an ongoing budget crisis and management problems with the county jail and animal shelters as evidence of Sims' shortcomings." Who knows if Sims will take Pelz's advice, however; the decision might even be made for him if he gets the federal appointment from the Obama administration that people have been whispering about. more ›

King County Exec. Ron Sims is cutting everyone's budget to try to cover the $93 million dollar county deficit, and it's starting to get ugly. This morning's showdown is between Sims and King County Sheriff Sue Rahr, who says that the budget cuts will mean her office is forced to--among other discontinuations--stop investigating property crimes under $10,000 (most car theft, for example). Dozens of troopers currently assigned to unincorporated King County will have to be contracted to specific cities, Sound Transit, and Metro, leaving already-isolated residents without needed patrol. more ›

The Seattle Times reports that a whopping 400 county government jobs will be cut in King County Executive Ron Sims' 2009 budget. The cuts are part of Sim's plan to reduce county expenditures by $93 million for the next year, a significant belt-tightening. Sims did say that he's trying to delay budget cuts in health and human services, but still....400 jobs gone translates to a lot of men and women who will be looking for work soon. Anyone hiring? more ›

• MyBallard clears up the confusion about when it is actually okay to drive in 15th's bus lane.
• PhinneyWood has photos to show what happens when a car gets t-boned by a metro bus, careens into a parked car, and sends the once-parked car crashing on to a Phinney Ridge porch.
• Ron Sims twitters about what good shape Dan Savage is in, the P-I's Big Blog reports it, and now we're linking to the P-I. We really are all connected.

• White Center Now reports that King County Executive Ron Sims has proposed two staggered fare increases for Metro buses on his blog. In other news--Ron Sims writes a blog?!
• Yesterday's late afternoon thunder and lightning struck a little too close to home for a West Seattle Blog reader. A cedar tree in their neighbor's back yard was split in two by a lightning strike, sending cedar chips flying everywhere.
• PhinneyWood wants to let you know that, if you've had trouble with getting a green building permit, there's a meeting scheduled just for you this Wednesday at the Phinney Neighborhood Association.

Unlike Kevin Henry, Congressman Brian Baird, of Washington's third district, has endorsed Barack Obama. He joins Congressman Adam Smith, Governor Gregoire, and Pearl Jam as state leaders on Obama's side. more ›

We know, we know. What could they have possibly done now that they haven't done before? We blame the P-I for following the epic saga in the first place -- for years we had no idea that anyone ran the Port and, you know, its constant blundering seemed par for the course. more ›

Seattlest got invited to the screening of the new Al Gore flick, An Inconvenient Truth, at Pacific Place last night. (It opens Friday, June 2 in Seattle.) For an Al Gore flick, Mayor Greg Nickels and King County Executive Ron Sims show up. (And they pretend to make nice, because columnist Brodeur scolded them about not playing well together.) Then after the film, Chris Gregoire comes out and introduces surprise guest Al Gore and the crowd goes wild. Especially when she says how a few years ago at a rally, she had the privilege of introducing Gore as the next president, "-- and I was right!" more ›

There is kind of a lull in local politics right now. Cantwell is showing all those Ballard hippies that she has the guts to take on Enron, McGavick is raising oil money, and Mayor Nickels is getting yelled at by dog owners. more ›

Today at 11:00am, KUOW 94.9 will air the gay marriage debate between King County Executive Ron Sims, and Eastside bigot, Rev. Ken Hutcherson. more ›

Apparently Republicans don't like the U.S. Postal Service since liberals are able to perpetrate voter fraud by mail much more easily than conservatives. Naturally, the Sound Politics blog is all fired up about King County Executive Ron Sims' plan to make mail-in voting official for elections, maybe by next year. more ›

King County Executive Ron Sims, the only local politician willing to give the smallest amount of daylight to Southwest Airlines' proposal to build a new terminal at Boeing Field, caved yesterday. more ›

Republicans, they are a lot like us, except wealthier with a better knowledge of Big and Rich lyrics. They also have little say in the Seattle political spectrum-- except that there are enough GOPers in the city to tilt a close election, if they bother to pick which lilly liberal Dem they want to go with. The point is not much attention is paid to Republicans in Seattle . However, there are two races this fall in which the GOP may be able to influence the way us latte -sipping, kayak-paddling city slickers live. more ›

Do you remember that show 'Remember the 70s' on VH1? It spawned 'Remember the 80s', 'Remember the 90s’, and 'Celebrity Fit Club.' Well get ready for 'Remember the Gubernatorial Election.' It's going to be a fun time as we look back and remember the election that never really ended…oh my god, is that what we were wearing in 2004? more ›

After a failed run for governor last year (or perhaps he won, we're still going through old voting rolls) Ron Sims will be seeking his third term as King County Executive this fall. more ›