Former King County Executive Dow Constantine was hired as the new CEO of Sound Transit by the Sound Transit Board. The next day, Deputy Executive Shannon Braddock was confirmed as acting King County Executive by the King County Council.
Braddock is the first woman to serve as King County Executive. She was appointed as Deputy Executive in June 2023. Since 2017 she was worked in the Executive’s Office in a variety of roles, including Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, and Director of Council Relations.
Per the County charter, she was selected as Constantine’s first choice to serve as acting Executive through an executive order, but the council still needs to officially appoint an Executive, which could be her or another candidate. The appointed Executive will serve in the role until voters elect a new Executive in November.
Constantine’s appoint to the Sound Transit Board comes during a time when the agency is deciding where to place one or more new light rail stations in the Chinatown International District (CID).
Sound Transit is analyzing two competing proposals: A station on 4th Avenue opposite the existing CID station, and two stations north and south of the neighborhood, one Midtown station under the King County Administration Building at 4th Avenue and James Street, and an additional station at Dearborn Street south of Uwajimaya.
When he served as County Executive and chair of the Sound Transit Board, Constantine strongly favored building the second light rail stations north and south of the CID. The Midtown station would be part of Constantine’s Civic Campus Initiative to redesign the area around the County Administration Building.
The Sound Transit Board approved Constantine as CEO on March 27, and he started in the role on April 1. His starting base salary is $450,000.
The Sound Transit Board’s Executive Committee reviewed 60 applications for the job from around the world, and interviewed 15 people, according to Sound Transit.
“It is an honor to be chosen as the next CEO of Sound Transit,” said Constantine in a statement. “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 follows four terms as County Executive. He previously led King County Metro.
Constantine’s first term will run through Dec. 31, 2026, with two one-year renewals in succession, available at the Board’s discretion through Dec. 31, 2028.
