| Dow Constantine | |
|---|---|
| 8th King County Executive | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 24 November 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Kurt Triplett |
| Member of the Metropolitan King County Council from the 8th District | |
| In office 7 January 2002 – 24 November 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Greg Nickles |
| Succeeded by | Jan Drago |
| Member of the Washington Senate from the 34th district |
|
| In office 26 November 2000 – 7 January 2002 |
|
| Preceded by | Michael J. Heavey |
| Succeeded by | Erik Poulsen |
| Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 34th district |
|
| In office 13 January 1997 – 26 November 2000 |
|
| Preceded by | Georgette Valle |
| Succeeded by | Joe McDermott |
| Personal details | |
| Born | James Dow Constantine November 15, 1961 Seattle, Washington, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Domestic partner | Shirley Carlson |
| Residence | North Admiral, Seattle, Washington |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Occupation | King County Executive |
| Profession | Attorney, Urban Planner, Politician |
| Website | [1] |
Dow Constantine (born November 15, 1961) is an American politician in the state of Washington where he currently serves as King County Executive, an office he has held since November 2009. He was previously in the state legislature and on the King County Council, chairing the latter before his election as Executive. Constantine is a Democrat.
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James Dow Constantine was born and raised in West Seattle, Washington, the son of John and Lois Constantine. In 1980, he graduated from West Seattle High School, where he was student body president and an Eagle Scout. He attended the University of Washington (UW), receiving a Bachelor of Arts in political science and graduated as a member of the Phi Kappa Sigma fraternity.[1] Constantine also served an internship with Washington's 34th Legislative District representative Phil Talmadge.[2] While attending law school, Constantine worked as a disk jockey for the college radio station KCMU.[3] In 1989, Constantine earned a law degree from the University of Washington School of Law.[2] Constantine later returned to obtain a Master's degree in urban planning from UW in 1992.[2]
Constantine opened a private law practice in 1990.[4] He served as chair of the 34th District Democrats organization and worked as an aide for King County Council member Greg Nickels. Constantine was elected as to the State House of Representatives in 1996.[5] He won re-election in 1998.[6] In 2001, he became a Washington State Senator. He left the state senate in 2002 after being appointed to the King County Council to replace Nickels, who had been elected Seattle mayor.[5] Constantine was a King County Council member from 2002 to 2009, representing the eighth district, which includes West Seattle, parts of Southeast Seattle, North Highline, Burien, Vashon Island, Maury Island, Normandy Park, and parts of both SeaTac and Tukwila.[6] In 2009, he served as council Chair.
Constantine announced his candidacy for King County Executive on February 16, 2009 to replace Ron Sims who was appointed the United States Deputy Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.[7] In the primary election, Constantine received 22% of the votes to advance to a run off against candidate Susan Hutchison, who received 37%.[8] Described as "perhaps the most contentious race on the November [2009] ballot" by Seattle NPR outlet KPLU,[9] the campaign has been characterized by negative campaigning, including "mudslinging" ads paid for by the candidates' supporters.[10][11][12]
Constantine received press attention for stressing the conservative affiliations of Hutchison, pointing to her involvement with the Discovery Institute and contributions to Republican candidates such as President Bush in 2004 and Mike Huckabee in 2008.[13][14][15] Hutchison downplayed any perceived partisanship and criticized Constantine as a political insider with close ties to labor unions.[4]
In October 2009, the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) investigated allegations that the Constantine's campaign illegally coordinated with an independent campaign on anti-Hutchison ads.[16] The PDC concluded there was no coordination and dismissed the complaint.[17] The PDC also investigated complaints regarding Hutchison's campaign on allegations that campaign contributions exceeded single election limits and that expenditures by the campaign were not properly documented.[18] The PDC imposed a $100 fine against Hutchison for exceeding campaign limits and dismissed the failure-to-report allegations.[19]
Constantine was endorsed by Governor Christine Gregoire,[20] Seattle Mayor Greg Nickles, US Senators Patty Murray[21] and Maria Cantwell,[21] Washington State Senate Majority Leader Lisa BrownLisa Brown]] as well as state Senators Ed Murray, Ken Jacobsen, Joe McDermott, and Karen Keiser.[22] Organizations that endorsed Constantine included NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, the Sierra Club, the Cascade Bicycle Club, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and the UFCW.
On election night, November 3, the initial batch of election results had Constantine winning the election over Hutchison, at that time receiving 57% of the votes to her 43%.[23] He was expected to replace interim Executive Kurt Triplett on November 24 following the certification of election results by the King County Elections' Canvassing Board.[24] Constantine was ultimately declared the winner, and was inaugurated November 24, 2009.
Constantine has a long-term relationship with Shirley Carlson whom he met while both worked at the University of Washington radio station.[21] They live in North Admiral, Seattle.[25]