Newly elected King County Executive spoke before the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. He said he's been asked many times what taking the new role on is like. "It's like jumping aboard a 14,000 passenger ship, (that's how many employees King County has) that's going full speed, and trying to turn it around while half the crew is battling you for control of the steering wheel."

In speaking about his plans he said, "What we're doing during this first 100 days is putting together a blueprint for genuine reform in county government." He plans to make a series of speeches on his progress at the 100 day mark.
"When I took office we reduced the number of Executive office employees by 15%," Constantine said, " and asked everyone who we hired to start with a lower pay. I'm doing the same. I'm deferring 10% of my salary."

He's appointed a "Director of Customer Service", the idea being to treat people in the county like customers for a business. They will handle issues like responding to emails in a more timely fashion, talking to people instead of letting them negotiate through phone systems and address other matters in how people deal with the county.

The Executive said he has established a clearinghouse for employee led reform ideas and a soon to be announced competition for the Executive to "Walk in the Shoes" of a county employee for a day. Most of his staff has made humorous suggestions thus far he said.

Metro bus service is a challenge right now he said, noting the the drop of revenue from declining sales taxes, also slowed by the economic conditions. "Our goal is to put busses where people live and work, not to spread the service like peanut butter across the countryside but to focus on those places where we can get the most bang for the buck."

King County is now working on animal services for an "orderly transition" for animal sheltering that serves the needs of animals and the needs of cities. His stated goal is "No healthy or treatable animal will be killed because we have failed to provide enough space or the adoption service to provide them with an opportunity for a new home."

The Water Taxi is an issue the executive addressed, saying, "We're working to keep the fishing dock open as much as possible during construction." The plan is to complete the project by the middle of next month. The water taxi is moving to year round service. The new dock will have a new passenger loading ramp, "less precipitous", he said, "especially at low tide."

Chris Arkills is the new lead on transportation issues, Constantine said.

"Our new administration is about not getting mired in then day to day crises that erupt" he said, "You've got to put in place the structures to focus on the big play...and the big play is restructuring this government for the 21st century...and remake the way we do business."

Fred Jarrett, legislator from the 46th District was asked to join the administration as Deputy Executive, eliminating a position of Chief of Staff and consolidating the duties of that position saving the county "a couple hundred thousand dollars."

He noted that over the past ten years the business communities in West Seattle, "It is great to see all the positive changes that have been made in my community, particulary those that have been made in the last fifteen years." Constantine explained that when he was running for the legislature in 1995 those he talked to noted the poor state of business in West Seattle.
If you look at all the business communities it's difficult to remember that it wasn't even a decade and half ago that they were all down on their luck. I am so impressed with the people in this room ...with how much this revival has helped to create community here in West Seattle."

Also in attendance at the luncheon was Jan Drago who has replaced Constantine on the King County Council as District 8 representative.
"My heart is always here in West Seattle so I'll be working closely with Jan," said Constantine.

"One of the things I'm doing as Executive is reaching out to our King County legislative delegation and all the mayors and city councils of the 39 cities in King County to start to create a sense of shared purpose."