Just six days shy of Dow Constantine becoming sworn in as the new King County Executive, he celebrated his birthday. The fundraiser party took place Wednesday night, Nov. 18, at Kells near Pike Place Market. The party was coined "Dow's 10th annual 39th birthday." His actual birthday is Nov. 15.

"I'm a much older 39 than I was a year ago," quipped Dow Constantine. "I appreciate everybody coming out."

"Ever since I moved to West Seattle five years ago Dow always took the time t talk with me, catch, up, ask about my family," said Jim Del Ciello, who attended the party. "I've worked with a lot of high-level politicians, and he breaks the mold. He's not egotistical. He's down to earth."

"I'm here to give Dow a big birthday hug," said Furry Faces Foundation's Teri Ensley of West Seattle, who stated she is 29 years old.

"I feel wonderful and I feel relieved," said Lois, Dow's mother of her son's political victory. "I think King County did the right thing."
"I still think of my sons as my Cub Scouts," she added, also referring to Dow's younger brother, Blair. "I got Dow an upscale sweatshirt for his birthday."

"I'm very proud of him for his accomplishments," said Dow's father, John. Even in high school he was a student leader. I could feel it coming." Lois and John are Seattle residents as are both their sons.

"I remember talking politics around the kitchen table at an early age because Dow would discuss what was going on," said Blair, a landscape architect, . "We intrinsically support each other. My unbiased observation is that he is somewhat rare as a politician as he seems to be entirely unmotivated by ambition alone. His motivation is that he wants to make this a better community for everyone. Dow is simply trying to make West Seattle, and the rest of the county, the great place he grew up in."

"I am happy to be to celebrate his 39th birthday. He does not look a day over 39," said Sally Clark, Seattle City Councilmember. "I am excited that he won (the election) mostly because the relationship between the city and the county for transit services is hugely important to me. We're so dependent on the Metro Service to make any of the great dreams and plans that people have through the neighborhoods actually happen, so (in the case of) West Seattle that Rapid Ride happens on time and on budget and provides mobility. It's hard to convince people in Maple Valley that they are actually 'on the bus' with us in the Admiral District. They see it often as Seattle taking something from their service. We need to get out of that paradigm and find a smarter way to finance the system we all want."