Dembowski elected chair of King County Council

Rod Dembowski, Chair
King County Council

Councilmember Rod Dembowski has been elected as the new Chair of the King County Council. 

Dembowski represents north King county, including Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, and Kenmore.

The decision was made on Monday following passage of a reorganization motion approved by the council. The legislation also appointed Reagan Dunn and reappointed Claudia Balducci to serve as Vice Chairs.

“We live in times of increasing economic disparity, where the middle class and our most vulnerable residents face unprecedented challenges,” said Dembowski. 

“King County has a tremendous opportunity to improve every community in our region and the tools to make it happen. I appreciate the trust my colleagues have placed in me to guide that work and Chair the council in 2019.”

Dembowski, who joined the council in 2013, assumes the post from Councilmember Joe McDermott, who served as Chair for the past three years.

“It was a privilege to serve the council, and the county, as Chair for the past three years,” said McDermott. 

“Over the past three years, this council delivered hundreds of millions of dollars to tackle our region’s housing crisis, passed groundbreaking protections for immigrants and refugees in the county, and oversaw the restructuring of county departments to ensure we deliver services equitably and efficiently in the years ahead. I look forward to continue this good, collaborative work as we select new leadership and I wish the best for our new Chair in 2019.”

Balducci was reappointed to her post as Vice Chair, which Dunn assumes the role from former Vice Chair Kathy Lambert.

The legislation also appointed these Councilmembers to chair the following committees:

• Committee of the Whole – Joe McDermott
• Budget and Fiscal Management – Claudia Balducci
• Mobility and Environment – Dave Upthegrove
• Health, Housing, and Human Services – Jeanne Kohl-Welles
• Government Accountability and Oversight – Pete von Reichbauer
• Local Services and Regional Roads & Bridges – Kathy Lambert
• Law and Justice – Larry Gossett
• Regional Transit Committee – Claudia Balducci
• Regional Policy Committee – Pete von Reichbauer
• Regional Water Quality – Kathy Lambert