After an extensive year long exploratory effort to ask the people of King County about the depth of the county and the need for change in the executive office, King County Councilmember Larry Phillips announced that he would be running for Ron Sims position as King County Executive.

“I got very good results as a consequence of an exploratory effort,” Phillips said. “After Obama’s inauguration I announced my candidacy.”

Phillips grew up and raised his family in Seattle and represented the 4th District on the King County Council. He said he has participated in so many endeavors in the city and feels that King County is one of the best places to live, work and play.

“One of the things I learned in talking with the community was that they are looking for a very focused effort in county government,” Phillips said. “During this difficult time they are looking for a stable and efficient government that delivers basic government. I’m focusing on that.”

Phillips said he has a long record of making difficult decisions, meeting tough challenges and solving problems as a staffer, a member of the King County Council and a legislator. Phillips said he will be focusing solely on the office of the King County Executive.

“People have used it (King County Executive) as a spring board for higher office, but I am only interested in this position and hope to continue to make this a great place to live,” Phillips said.

Phillips said he was instrumental in bringing about light rail and the Sound Transit system by including it on the ballot this year and getting it passed by voters. He has a strong focus in transportation and feels with the past winter storm said if voted into position he would like to to expand Metro Bus system services and have it available in even the worse storms than this year.

Phillips said he hopes expansion of the Metro system will directly affect and benefit Ballard once the system is improved.

Earlier this month, current King County Executive Ron Sims received an appointment by the Obama administration as second-in-command at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He has accepted, but confirmation is pending from the senate.

Sims told Komo 4 News that he had been running for re-election and was urging King County Council to appoint a “caretaker” executive to replace him--someone who is only interested in serving through the November election--to avoid giving political advantage to any candidate.

For more information on Larry Phillips visit http://larryphillips.com.