King County Executive-elect names leadership team

King County Executive-elect Dow Constantine recently named six experienced regional leaders to the senior management team that will join him when he officially takes office next week. Constantine was set to be sworn in Nov. 24.

Constantine said both new appointments and staff being retained in the Executive’s office will be taking an approximate 10- to 15-percent pay cut from salaries in the previous administration, and that he has reduced the number of positions in the Executive’s office by more than 15-percent.

The Executive’s senior management team will consist of: Rhonda Berry, assistant deputy county executive; Steve Call, interim budget director; Sung Yang, director of Government and Labor Relations; Carrie S. Cihak, director of Strategic Initiatives; Lorrie McKay, director of Customer Service; Frank Abe, director of Communications.

Executive-elect Constantine previously announced that state Senator Fred Jarrett, who had served as a co-chair of his transition team, will serve as Deputy County Executive, the highest ranking staff position in the incoming administration. Prior to becoming a state senator, Jarrett served four terms in the state House of Representatives, after stints as Mercer Island Mayor and as a city councilmember. Prior to that, Mr. Jarrett had a 35-year career at The Boeing Company. All of the appointments to the Executive’s leadership team will begin their new assignments over the next two weeks.

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