King County/sound transit
"Mayor Marchione is nominated for Sound Transit Board" - February 6, 2008
Redmond Mayor John Marchione was nominated today to the Sound Transit Board, completing King County’s appointments to the board for 2008. Eighteen individuals are charged with the responsibility for governing Sound Transit, ten of whom are from King County.
“As mayor of an Eastside urban center that is experiencing rapid growth in jobs and new residents, Mayor Marchione is in a unique position to provide direction and oversight to Sound Transit,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “His vision of transportation priorities dovetails well with the mandate of Sound Transit.”
“One of my priorities for 2008 is to move Redmond towards playing a more active regional role and there is no more pressing issue in the region than transportation,” states Mayor Marchione. “I am honored to be able to serve with many distinguished colleagues and to build on their prior work as we move towards a Sound Transit plan for the future.”
Redmond has a population of more than 50,000 residents and is a technology center, including nationally known high-tech and biomedical companies. Among them are Microsoft, Nintendo, AT&T and Physio-Control.
“As we continue to grow, Microsoft will continue to collaborate on regional efforts to improve mobility throughout Puget Sound,” said DeLee Shoemaker, Microsoft state government affairs director. “Sound Transit is a key agency addressing transit and facilities challenges. We are pleased that Mayor John Marchione has been nominated to serve on the Sound Transit Board. He recognizes these challenges facing the region and will represent the entire Eastside community.”
Members of the Sound Transit Board of Directors provide oversight to the agency charged with the development of a regional high capacity transit system. The agency has implemented a regional express bus system, a commuter rail system, and is working on the intial segment of a regional light rail system from Downtown Seattle to SeaTac, scheduled to open in late 2009.
Over the next few years, the services and facilities provided by Sound Transit will play an increasingly important role in addressing our transportation challenges and contributing to the economic development of our region.
Mayor Marchione’s appointment must be approved by the Metropolitan King County Council. His term expires December 31, 2011. He fills the position previously held by Bellevue City Councilmember Connie Marshall who resigned in January. Executive Sims praised former councilmember Marshall, who also served as Bellevue’s mayor, for her dedication to serving area residents both as mayor and as a Sound Transit Board member.
Earlier this week, the council confirmed the appointment of Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin to the Sound Transit Board.
This release is also posted on the King County Executive’s Web site, at www.kingcounty.gov