Is Ron Sims catching a bus to D.C?
CORRECTION BELOW: With the King County courthouse and the business community full of rumors that federal security checks and interviews by the F.B.I. were taking place for Executive Ron Sims, it looks like Sims might be headed for an important post in the Obama administration, despite his early endorsement of Hillary Clinton. One good guess is a job in the transportation field. Sims is the head of Metro and has become a national figure in his support for clean-fuel buses and demand management through variable tolling. Sims' other area of national expertise is climate change and the necessary shifts in carbon fuels. He's been spending lots of time in the past year speaking to national forums.
Concerning transportation, Obama has said, "We will create millions of jobs by making the single largest new investment in our national infrastructure since the creation of the federal highway system in the 1950s." Observers expect the new administration to put transportation at the center of its economic recovery programs, linking the spending to energy independence and environmental protection.
If Sims is tapped, a lot of local political dominoes will start toppling. Names already circulating to replace him as county executive (up for election in 2009) are King County Councilmembers Larry Phillips (already an unannounced candidate), Dow Constantine, Julia Patterson, and Bob Ferguson.
CORRECTION: In the event of a vacancy, county Democratic precinct chairs formerly would submit three names for the County Council to pick from; but now that the county offices have been rendered non partisan, apparently the old way is replaced by one where the council, not just Democrats, picks the replacement on its own. That would seem to favor the candidate best able to appeal (or deal) across the aisle.
A quick exit by Sims would also complicate the Alaska Way Viaduct politics, since Sims, Mayor Greg Nickels, and Gov. Gregoire are supposed to choose their preferred version by Dec. 31. Would Sims' choice (likely for the surface option) stick if he leaves?
Comments:
Posted Sat, Dec 13, 5:24 p.m. inappropriate
is it 'diversity' or is it ability ?
i fear the former, but this is one county resident that will be glad to see him leave.
Posted Sat, Dec 13, 10:14 p.m. inappropriate
More like, 'visionary' or 'highly competent'? Sims has generally come out unscathed from countless unwinnable political situations, not because he spins and plots, but because he's genuine and he wears his convictions on his sleeve, and he does what he thinks is right. I'm sure of that, even though I have not always supported his positions. And there's no doubt he's been effective on many fronts including environmental protection and transit. Give the man credit. He will be missed.
Posted Sun, Dec 14, 8:57 a.m. inappropriate
More like corrupt,self-centered and the only reason Sims comes out "unscathed" is because the local press couldn't investigate its way out of a wet paper bag. Most unfavorable stories get little or no coverage.
Posted Mon, Dec 15, 4:04 p.m. inappropriate
Sims doesn't always get it right. I know that with something that effected me quite personally. But he is honest and he does what he can within the system.
With power comes responsibility. Many, many folks in government and corporate America believe that increased power means less responsibility.
Sims has earned a promotion - the measure of him though will be whether he uses his Federal Power to continue some of his efforts at cleaning up the local situation - perhaps even mine!
http://motleytools.com/blog
Posted Mon, Dec 15, 6:29 p.m. inappropriate
It may be both grimly and amusingly ironic that Ron Sims would become Secretary of the Department of Transportation. After all, he was for Sound Transit before he was against it, which makes him eminently qualified to work in Washington, DC.
This is a truly strange choice because Sims is neither a progressive nor has the usual Obama credential that combines an elite education with stellar professional achievement. If he does get the position, then he has the great good luck to leave behind the mess he helped create as King County Executive and as a Council Member of the past 20 odd years (you need to own it buddy): parks that need repair or are shutdown, underfunded transportation, Brightwater wastewater treatment plant (we should name this one after him if he goes), no police protection (he pretty much shut down the domestic violence unit for King County), both the baseball & football stadiums (and Vulcan doesn't even let us see the books for Qwest Field thanks to him and his minions), the aborted Southwest Airlines terminal at Boeing Field, the attempt to swap to the Port of Seattle Eastside railroad right-of-way when we are trying to build-out mass transit, the lack of essential public health services, these are just the first examples that come to mind effortlessly. Yes, Ron, we'll surely miss you...
Posted Tue, Dec 16, 8:49 a.m. inappropriate
I didn't mean to suggest that Sims would get the job as Secretary of Transportation, but rather an important post in that department. Latest word is that Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, who's worked wonders in getting regional light rail built in Denver, has the inside track for the top job. Further, even if Sims gets an appointment, he might turn it down. He has said that he would be reluctant to go to D.C. and have to report to numerous bosses.
Posted Wed, Dec 17, 7:55 p.m. inappropriate
Ron is a visionary and a charismatic leader who takes care of his own, but he can also be a polarizing force who digs in hard on issues where he is clearly at a disadvantage. Animal welfare and King County DDES are just two examples. Without intervention of agitators we'd have a 200+ foot buffer around every puddle in rural KC (the actual first CA0 proposal from the exec) and shelter conditions would be even more horrific. This isn't about being on right or wrong ideologically - I'll line up with Ron most times there. However it's his responsibility to run the county effectively - every bit and piece of it and not just the favored causes.