The four candidates selected by a Council-created advisory committee met today with the Metropolitan King County Council to discuss why they want to become the newest member of the Council, filling the seat left vacant when Dow Constantine became County Executive.

The Council’s Committee of the Whole interviewed Jan Drago, Zack Hudgins, Joe McDermott and Sharon Nelson on the vacancy in Council District 8. The four finalists were selected out of 11 applicants interviewed last Thursday by the 12-member advisory committee of community leaders and elected officials who live or work in Council District 8.

“I want to thank the advisory committee and the candidates for their work. Each of the candidates were very well qualified and would do a good job representing the citizens of District 8,” said Reagan Dunn, chair of the Committee of the Whole. “It will be a very difficult choice but I am committed to making sure the citizens of District 8 are represented as soon as possible.”

“The Council is working to ensure a timely appointment, guaranteeing representation for the nearly 200,000 residents of District 8,” said Council Chair Bob Ferguson. “Filling the vacancy will allow the new councilmember to transition quickly into the position, hire staff and hit the ground running in 2010.”

Hudgins, who representatives the 11th District in the State House of Representatives and McDermott, State Senator from the 34th District told the committee that if appointed, they will run for the seat in the November 2010 general election. Drago, who will retire from the Seattle City Council at the end of this year and Nelson, State Representative from the 34th District, said they would serve only until the until the general election in November 2010.

“We have four outstanding candidates who presented their vision of the future of District 8 and King County,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett. “I appreciate their willingness to step forward and meet the challenges they'll face when the join the Council.”

“Many qualified candidates came forward during the selection process,” said Councilmember Kathy Lambert, who represents District 3 in Northeast King County. “The citizens are well-represented at all levels of government by leaders who are willing to serve on the council while we face many difficult decisions. We look forward to selecting a person who will work collaboratively with all existing members on the council to serve the citizens regionally as well as locally.”

The King County Council has final authority for making the appointment. The Committee of the Whole is expected to make its recommendation on the finalists next Monday, December 14. The Council is expected to take action on the appointment later that day at its last Council meeting of 2009.

The appointee will serve in office until certification of the next general election in November 2010.