The names of Rod Dembowski, Will Hall and Cindy Ryu have been sent by King County Executive Dow Constantine to the King County Council as the finalists to fill the vacant King County Council seat in District 1. The seat became vacant when voters in November elected King County Council member Bob Ferguson to be Washington State’s Attorney General.
As noted in today’s Seattle Times, the King County Council has 60 days in which to select one of the three to fill out the remainder of Ferguson’s term. The 8 King County Council members still on the Council have 60 days to make their choice. These 8 members, while elected as nonpartisan members of the Council are split 4 Democrats and 4 Republicans. The 3 finalists for the seat are all identified as Democrats. If the split Council can not make a decision, the decision will be be made by Governor Jay Inslee.
Whoever is selected will have to run for election in this year’s August Primary and if one of the top two in that Primary also run in the General Election in November. While all three say they will run for election, this might change after one of them is selected to fill the vacancy. It is also possible and likely that others will run in this year’s election, to challenge whoever is selected.
Of the three candidates being considered Rod Dembowski has raised some $63,936 from 222 contributions to run for election. Cindy Ryu has raised some $31,710 from 62 contributions. Will Hall has raised $1050 from 4 donors and loaned his campaign $2000. Cindy Ryu, as an incumbent state Legislator from the 32nd LD, is not able to raise additional funds until after the State legislative session adjourns. The regular session this year goes for 5 months and has just started. Clearly if Rod Dembowski continues to raise money at the rate he has so far, he will have a strong financial advantage in any election later this year.
Here are the links to their websites:
