King County Executive Dow Constantine has appointed newly-elected King County Councilman Joe McDermott as a south county representative to the Sound Transit Board of Directors.

"It is critically important that we continue to have strong south King County representation on the Sound Transit Board, and Councilmember McDermott's extensive legislative experience will serve all of our customers well," said Executive Constantine. "The 8th District includes the cities of Burien, SeaTac and Tukwila, and these are all emerging residential and job centers for our region that need good transportation alternatives."

"We need to connect communities within south King County to each other, recognizing that people live, work and play outside downtown Seattle," said McDermott. "Working together and thinking creatively, we can produce a transit system that meets the needs of the entire region. I am honored to be a South County representative on the Board."

Ten of the 18 seats on the Sound Transit Board are assigned to King County on the basis of population. State law sets specific parameters governing the distribution of appointments, including a requirement for proportional representation from the areas within the boundaries of Sound Transit.

McDermott succeeds outgoing Councilwoman Jan Drago, who was appointed to represent the 8th Council District following Constantine's election as King County Executive. McDermott was elected to the office in November and was sworn into office on November 24.

McDermott has been a member of the state Legislature since 2000, serving seven years in the state House before being appointed to the state Senate in 2007. He has also served as a Senior Budget Analyst with the Seattle School District and worked for former Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney John Ladenburg.