Washington: Ron Sims

I'm pretty late to this party. But once again, newly minted Democrat, Sen. Fred Jarrett of Mercer Island, sent me an invitation.

Who will replace Ron Sims, who's on his way to Washington D.C. and the Obama Administration?

March 11, 2009

Dear Joe,
You may have read recent press reports that I might be a candidate for King County Executive this year. Over the past several months many of my friends and supporters have encouraged me to consider entering this race.

I am currently occupied with my Senate duties and will be until the session ends. That is my priority. I am deeply involved in strengthening education and the challenges of our budget, and the economic situation our state faces.

Next week in Seattle, the state Department of Transportation and others are holding a couple open houses to let folks see what Gov. Chris Gregoire, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and King County Executive Ron Sims have in mind for replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct on Seattle's waterfront.

Wish I could go, but there's this pesky thing call the Legislature that's in session in Oympia, 60 miles away from Seattle. Guess I'll just have to look at the pictures on line at WSDOT's Web pages.

The trio has hatched a $4.24 billion plan to replace the viaduct with a 1.7-mile deep bore tunnel under Seattle.

Last Friday’s 4.5 magnitude earthquake was not-so-gentle reminder of just how much Gov. Chris Gregoire, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and (soon to be former) King County Executive Ron Sims are gambling in their deliberations and recommendation for replacing the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

It was the imminent threat of earthquake that boosted the $4.24 billion viaduct project on Seattle’s downtown waterfront and, to a lesser extent, the $4.5 billion Highway 520 bridge project, to the top of the state’s priority list for money. Those two projects were the main reason the Legislature approved raising the gas tax by 9.5 cents a gallon in 2005.

Pearse Edwards dropped by the office for his monthly visit, and to assure us reporters in our White House that the governor will be out of town tomorrow. And she won't be interviewing for an Obama Administration job. And she won't really be with our troops in Iraq. And she won't be partying with Ron Sims. (OK. I made that last one up. Who knows? She might be partying with the new deputy-HUD nominee.)

She's going to hang with Barack and exchange acronynms, like SCHIP.

Edwards, the guv's communications director, said the President is not springing for Gregoire's airfare. The state is picking up the tab, he said.