The Candidate Scramble Begins: John Wilson Announces Run for County Exec

Longtime King County Executive Dow Constantine is calling it quits after four terms, creating a rare opening in the wait-your-turn culture of Washington politics.

The contest to succeed him is well underway, likely to confront voters with three very different resumes. The post is officially nonpartisan but all three prospective candidates are active Democrats.

King County Assessor John Arthur Wilson announced his candidacy Monday morning. King County Council member Claudia Balducci is already in the race. Fellow councilmember Girmay Zahilay is seriously considering a run.

John Arthur Wilson, nicknamed “Jaws,” has been around. He has worked as a reporter at the Seattle Times, Seattle Weekly, and KING-TV. He has operated behind the scenes as a congressional staffer and chief of staff at Ron Sims’ county executive office. Wilson has consulted with the Gallatin Group. He has been assessor for a decade.

Balducci had her start in elective office as a member of the Bellevue City Council, with a stint as mayor. She flipped a King County Council seat, unseating incumbent Kathy Lambert. Zahilay has a fascinating resume. He was born in Sudan, the son of Ethiopian refugees. When Girmay was 3, the family emigrated to America, and lived in public housing here. Girmay went from Franklin High School to Stanford (majoring in biology) and (after a stint of community work in New York City) to the University of Pennsylvania law school.

He has worked at two powerhouse law firms — Skadden Arps and Perkins Coie — before unseating Councilman Larry Gossett in 2019. Zahilay, a fast-rising politician, is an outspoken supporter of social justice and advocate for gun safety.

Issue differences are hard to discern. Zahilay may be vulnerable as a Seattle liberal; Balducci has Sound Transit snafus to explain; and Wilson might claim the moderate lane and be positioned as more of a change from the Constantine regime. In an interview, Wilson talked about the “mess” of the regional homelessness agency, and argued that as an ex-journalist he would bring skills of questioning and critical examination to the executive’s office. Balducci would be the first to hold the job in a long line of Seattle-based politicians (Spellman, Sims, Constantine), and so might tap the voters tired of Seattle dominance in the county.

Zahilay has made clear he prefers executive office, with hands-on ability to get stuff done, to legislating. He has served as an emcee at Bob Ferguson’s big show-of-strength fundraising luncheons.

One trend is a recognition that public safety is paramount on voters’ minds. The Stranger and Publicola can demonize the police, but not these candidates. Balducci’s announcement stressed safety; Wilson argues that King County needs “‘more cops and more judges.” The King County Executive governs about a quarter of the county that is unincorporated. But county government is also responsible for police services in several communities.

Constantine has run an efficient, responsive office. He has enjoyed victories, such as a park on Maury Island land slated for a gravel mine. But, as Balducci and Zahilay stress, housing is costly and in short supply.

At the moment, the battle is on for early endorsements and early impressions.