Sound Transit will soon have a new CEO after its board of directors approved the hiring of King County Executive Dow Constantine in a 15 to 0 vote on Thursday. Constantine is a member and former chair of the Sound Transit Board and abstained from the vote himself.
“It is an honor to be chosen as the next CEO of Sound Transit,” Constantine said. “Much of my service as an elected official has been devoted to building the world-class transit system our region has long needed and creating vibrant, transit-connected communities throughout Central Puget Sound. I can think of nothing I would rather do than lead this agency into the future, and I thank the board for their vote of confidence.”
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, who Constantine appointed to the board in 2022, was absent from the meeting, and Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin left early, but she expressed support before departing. Harrell’s spokesperson, Callie Craighead, said that Deputy Mayor Jessyn Farrell attended as his alternate, but did not participate in the vote. Craighead added that Harrell supports Constantine’s hiring.
The contract that the board approved stipulates that Constantine will start on April 1, which will create an opening at his post as County Executive. Two of his board colleagues are already running for that seat, which Constantine was set to vacate anyway at year’s end by not seeking a fifth term, as he announced late last year.
