Dow Constantine officially named Sound Transit CEO, with hefty $450K salary
A critical Washington agency that has faced a series of technical problems, closures, and safety issues will have a new leader at the helm.
King County Executive Dow Constantine was officially named the new Sound Transit CEO Thursday and will earn a whopping $450,000 a year salary.
'For every large organization, time is money, and we don't have time or money to waste delivering on the promise of a truly regional mass transit system,' Dave Somers, Snohomish County Executive and Sound Transit Board Chair, said via a news release from Sound Transit. 'Dow can hit the ground running and intimately knows the inner workings of Sound Transit. He has proven his ability to oversee large organizations, run a major transit agency, and maintain crucial partnerships.'
Constantine combats conflict of interest claims
However, the decision hasn't come without controversy.
Constantine beat out over 60 other candidates, including four who are chief executives of other U.S. transit agencies. Critics pointed to the fact that Constantine appointed many members who participated in the decision-making process, which was also panned for being too secretive.
But Constantine responded, telling The Seattle Times the CEO selection process is supposed to be confidential. He added that Sound Transit and its attorney confirmed there was no conflict of interest as long as he recused himself, which he said he did.
'It is an honor to be chosen as the next CEO of Sound Transit,' Constantine said via the release. '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.'
Constantine's new role comes as Sound Transit has faced month-long service disruptions and several violent incidents that occurred onboard trains and on platforms. Yet, Sound Transit Vice President and King County Council member Claudia Balducci is confident Constantine will help build a better system.
'In selecting the next CEO for Sound Transit, as with all the decisions I am called on to make regarding transit, I put the mission of providing great transit at the very forefront,' she said via the release. 'We must get this system built. We must build it as quickly as possible. And we must put the needs of riders first at all times. I support the appointment of Dow Constantine as our next CEO because I believe he is the candidate most capable to lead the agency in the right direction to meet our goals, today and into the future.'
Constantine delivers final State of the County address
On Wednesday, Constantine delivered his final State of the County address.
'The work ahead is as critical as ever,' he said. 'It is rewarding for me to know the next chapter will unfold on a solid foundation that we have built.'
Who will take over as King County Executive?
On Thursday, King County Council Members Reagan Dunn and Sarah Perry introduced a motion to appoint Deputy Executive Shannon Braddock as acting King County Executive.
'I have deep trust in Braddock's ability to provide the stable leadership needed to do the work at hand,' Perry said via a news release from the King County Council. 'With this important step of the appointment process in place, I look forward to working with my Council colleagues to ensure we have a steady hand for King County government during this transition.'
According to the release, Constantine also selected Braddock as his first choice to serve as interim executive.
The council will take up the motion to appoint Braddock at the next meeting on April 1.
'With Dow Constantine's tenure as King County Executive ending, the council must engage in a multi-step process to select a new executive,' Dunn said via the release. 'This motion represents the first step in that process — appointing an acting executive. I am confident that the council will work together as a body to make sure the seat is filled expediently.'
However, even if Braddock is appointed, she could later be replaced by another candidate put forward by the council. That person would serve until the results of the general election in November. The council noted this means there could be up to three different temporary holders of the position — an interim, acting, and appointed executive.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Yahoo
Tacoma City Council to consider ‘Worker's Bill of Rights'
This story was originally published on Tacoma's City Council will hold a special meeting Friday morning to decide whether to adopt or send to voters a proposed 'Worker's Bill of Rights.' Known as Measure 2, the initiative would raise the city's minimum wage to $20 per hour and expand protections for workers. Supporters said the measure is necessary to address the rising cost of living and improve workplace conditions. 'Some people think that by raising the minimum wage, then the cost of everything is going to go up, but the truth of the matter is, we're chasing the cost of living,' UFCW 367 President Michael Hines told The Tacoma News Tribune. 'We're not ahead of it. We haven't been ahead of it in a long time.' Tacoma businesses voice concerns At a recent council meeting, members of the local business community voiced concerns about the proposal. Andrea Reay, CEO of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce, warned that some businesses may not survive if the measure is enacted. 'We're in a fragile moment,' Reay said. If the council does not approve Measure 2, it will be placed on a future ballot. The timing of that vote has not yet been determined. The meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday at Tacoma City Hall. Frank Lenzi is the News Director for KIRO Newsradio. Read more of his stories here. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Yahoo
Washington Primary Election: King County Executive race
Tuesday's primary elections in King County will include a position that hasn't been on the ballot for more than a decade. Seven candidates are vying for King County Executive, one of the highest-ranking elected offices in the county, which guides policy and budget. It will mark the first time since 2009 that the County Executive position is on the ballot. Current CEO of Sound Transit, Dow Constantine, held the King County Executive seat for fifteen years before stepping down on March 27 to become the public transit company's chief executive. The seven candidates aiming to succeed current County Executive Shannon Braddock are: Claudia Balducci Girmay Zahilay Amiya Ingram Bill Hirt Don L Rivers Derek Chartrand Rebecca Williamson Who are the candidates? Claudia Balducci Balducci is the former mayor of Bellevue and currently serves on the King County Council, focusing on transportation accessibility and safety, as well as creating an affordable housing task force that established housing projects on the east side of the county, according to As County Executive, Balducci says she plans to focus on housing affordability, crisis intervention, transit safety, and expanding mental health services, according to her campaign website. She has been endorsed by Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland, the Seattle Times Editorial Board, and the SEIU Local 925 Union. Balducci has raised $713,000 for her campaign. Girmay Zahilay Zahllay is a former attorney who currently serves as the Chair of the King County Council and sits on the Sound Transit board. He has been endorsed by Governor Bob Ferguson, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal, and Attorney General Nick Brown, according to As Chair of the King County Council, he has worked to develop crisis care centers, affordable housing, and gun violence prevention strategies. His policy plan is focused on building affordable housing, reducing gun violence, supporting small businesses, and expanding access to behavioral health programs, according to his campaign website. His campaign has raised $905,700. Amiya Ingram A former cybersecurity analyst and Microsoft AI employee, Ingram is proposing to offer up to $1,000 monthly stipends for small businesses, converting retired train cars and buses into transient housing, and bolstering background checks for gun purchases. Imgram has raised $13,090 for her campaign, according to the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). Bill Hirt Hirt is retired after working at Boeing for 36 years. His primary campaign platform is reducing spending for Sound Transit projects. Hirt has proposed to stop the East Link light rail program and claims it will not ease congestion on I-5, according to his website. Don L Rivers Rivers is retired after working for King County Metro and has served as an adviser for community and law enforcement officials in Washington State, according to his campaign website. His policy proposals for County Executive include investing in affordable housing, increasing public safety by fostering relationships between law enforcement and members of the community, as well as investing in local businesses, his campaign website says. Rivers has raised $4,500 for his campaign. Derek Chartrand Chartrand is a manufacturing manager and former president of the Washington Trucking Association, according to He is running on decreasing county spending, funding law enforcement, reducing crime, and building homeless shelters to remove encampments, according to his campaign. Chartrand has raised $8,000 for his campaign. Rebecca Williamson Williamson is a freight rail conductor, and she highlights her twenty-five years of experience as a member of a union. She is running on supporting working-class voters, raising wages, building affordable housing, and proposing a shorter work week for public works employees, according to Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Yahoo
Jacobs to design $7B Seattle light rail extension
This story was originally published on Construction Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Construction Dive newsletter. Award: Light rail extension design Value: Not disclosed, entire project cost between $6.7 and $7.1 billion Location: Seattle Client: Sound Transit Sound Transit selected Dallas-based Jacobs to provide design services for the up to $7.1 billion West Seattle Link Extension, which aims to enhance connectivity for residential and economic centers and offer faster, more reliable service, according to a July 17 news release from Jacobs. The extension will add 4.1 miles of light rail, a new bridge, tunnel and four new stations, linking Seattle's SODO neighborhood with West Seattle's Alaska Junction neighborhood, according to the project website. The project will also be the catalyst for new development near stations, including retail and affordable housing. Jacobs will lead Phase 1 design and design validation for the project, per the release. The cost of the contract was not disclosed. "Jacobs has delivered some of Puget Sound's most critical transportation solutions for 70 years, including approximately 30 miles of light rail system expansions for Sound Transit," said Jacobs Executive Vice President Ron Williams in the release. Those include the Northgate Link Extension Project and the I-90 portion of the Eastlink project, according to Jacobs. Planning began in 2017, per the project website. The Sound Transit Board selected route and station locations for the West Seattle Link Extension Project in October 2024, and the Federal Transit Agency approved the extension in April, allowing it to move to the final design phase. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, and the line is expected to begin service in 2032. Recommended Reading McCarthy, Jacobs finish construction on $373M hospital tower
