King County Executive Dow Constantine Named Nominee for CEO of Sound Transit
Washington State Representative Frank Chopp Passes Away
The Port of Seattle and OneAmerica Present Citizenship Clinic
The 18-member board of Sound Transit will vote Thursday afternoon on the nomination of current King County Executive Dow Constantine as the new CEO of Sound Transit. A two-thirds majority vote is required for him to gain the nomination.
In a statement, the board wrote, "We are pleased to put forward Dow Constantine for a vote of the Board. We are confident he has the knowledge, experience and commitment to achieve Sound Transit's goals and complete the [Sound Transit 3 (ST3)] package."
ST3 is Sound Transit's system plan to improve and expand upon the current regional mass transit system by connecting King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties with light rail, bus rapid transit (BRT), express bus, and commuter rail. It will double the current number of light rail stations to more than 80 stations over 116 miles. The stations will run north to Everett; south to Federal Way and Tacoma; east to downtown Redmond, south Kirkland, and Issaquah; and west to Ballard and West Seattle.
According to Sound Transit spokesperson John Gallagher, Constantine would earn $450,000, which was the lowest rate posted on the job description and significantly lower than the $650,000 that was advertised as the high end. Constantine's current position of county executive earns him $296,028 annually.
Constantine announced in fall 2024 that he would not seek reelection for a potential fifth term as King County Executive. Sound Transit said it would announce Constantine's potential start date on Thursday, before it takes the board vote.
Former Washington House Speaker and State Rep. Frank Chopp died suddenly on Sunday, after a cardiac arrest. He was 71 years old and left behind a highly respected legacy of being an advocate for health care reform, low-income housing, and better conditions for working families.
"Up until the day he died, he was doing what he loved and what people loved about him," his family wrote in a statement. "Frank's passion in his career as a community organizer, nonprofit executive, and 30-year elected official was intertwined with the kindness and enthusiasm he shared with his wife, children, family, and friends each day. His intellectual curiosity was as boundless as his energy. He woke up every day with a passion to solve problems and make people's lives better."
Chopp, a Democrat first elected to the Washington State House of Representatives in 1994, started as House co-speaker in 1999, when the Washington State House was split between Republicans and Democrats and shared the co-speakership with a Republican colleague.
After Democrats took over the majority in the Washington State House, Chopp held the role of house speaker between 2002 and 2019. When he stepped down from that role, he was the second-longest-serving state house speaker in the country. He had just retired on March 7, after the end of the 2024 legislative session, after announcing last fall that he would not run for reelection.
Lawmakers locally and throughout the state shared fond memories and recollections of Chopp, with Gov. Bob Ferguson posting on X a photo of Chopp and his daughter at one of Ferguson's political events. He wrote, "Frank Chopp was a force in Washington politics. I had coffee with him just a few weeks ago, and he was as animated and energized as ever, talking about solving problems for the people of our state."
Similar sentiments came from former Gov. Jay Inslee, who wrote on X, "WA Rep. Frank Chopp was one of the most effective and consequential legislative leaders in the whole nation. He led our march of progress in health and housing for years with unmatched ambition, compassion, and results. His spirit will inspire us."
In the area of affordable housing, Chopp was a co-founder of the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) and a co-founder of the state's Housing Trust Fund, which has provided over $2 billion in capital funding to affordable housing and helped build or preserve more than 58,600 affordable housing units statewide. His work championing health care reform also led to the creation of Apple Health for Kids and Apple Health and Home, which help provide medical care for low-income Washington State families. He also played a key role in founding the Seattle Human Services Coalition (SHSC), which is a multiracial, multicultural group of human service coalitions, agencies, programs, and individuals that help shape public policy around a wide-ranging number of issues affecting King County residents, including homelessness, domestic violence, racial equity, disability, and more.
King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay shared a photo of the two at an event that celebrated Frank Chopp's legacy. He wrote, "Frank Chopp is one of the most consequential legislators in our state's history. His impact on housing and healthcare can be felt in every corner of Washington. I will always be grateful for his mentorship and wisdom."
"Frank was absolutely indefatigable," King County Councilmember Claudia Balducci wrote on X. "Every year, he would show up with a new initiative, always making life better for the people of Washington. I was honored to partner with him - but really he hardly gave you a choice. Housing, health care, child care - he fought for it all.
Frank Chopp's family has shared that details about a celebration of life and memorial service will be announced at a later date. Rather than receive flowers, they would prefer donations to the following organizations: Low Income Housing Institute, Life Support, El Centro de la Raza, and Open Doors for Multicultural Families. Messages can be left in honor of Chopp's life at their EverLoved page.
The Port of Seattle is partnering with OneAmerica to host its annual citizenship clinic. The free clinic will offer legal assistance to those who are seeking to become U.S. citizens.
The clinic takes place on Saturday, April 26, at Pier 69. Appointments must be made in advance by calling 206-452-8413 or visiting WANewAmericans.org.
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