Sound Transit has found its preferred next CEO. Will he survive a board vote Thursday?
King County Executive Dow Constantine has been nominated to become the next CEO of Sound Transit and could be approved Thursday to lead the regional public transit agency of which he currently sits on the board.
Sound Transit announced Monday that the Democrat is the preferred candidate among three finalists under consideration following a search that began with 60 applicants.
In a joint statement, the agency board’s leadership trio, including Vice Chairman Ryan Mello — the Pierce County executive — said it was “pleased” to put Constantine forward for a vote. The other board leaders are Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers, who chairs the board, and King County Council member Claudia Balducci, who’s also a vice chair.
“We are confident he has the knowledge, experience, and commitment to achieve Sound Transit’s goals and complete the ST3 package,” the group said of Constantine and in reference to a third phase of capital investments approved by voters.
Sound Transit’s 18-member board, absent Constantine, will vote on Constantine’s nomination during its regular public meeting Thursday. His appointment will require a supermajority vote, meaning that he will need support from 12 of the 17 remaining board members.
The estimated $4 billion-plus Tacoma Dome Link Extension will be a key project in Pierce County to be advanced under the next CEO.
The confidential search to lead the agency, which maintains a $4 billion-plus budget and constructs and operates transit service throughout Pierce, King and Snohomish counties, was marked in part by criticisms of Constantine’s candidacy and concerns over transparency.
In February, the Transit Riders Union wrote to the agency’s board that Constantine was directly or indirectly responsible for appointing 10 board members and would be tasked as CEO with evaluating a King County government complex project put forward under his leadership as county executive. The letter was reported by The Urbanist.
Conflict-of-interest concerns were shared by the grassroots transit-advocacy group, Seattle Subway, which urged the agency to release the full list of finalists and invite public dialogue before any final decision.
Sound Transit has said it would not have received as many qualified applicants if they weren’t assured confidentiality and that Constantine recused himself from all matters related to the search.
The CEO job’s publicly advertised salary range is $450,000 to $650,000 per year, although the Seattle Times reported it could be as high as $675,000, which would exceed the $500,000 annual rate of retiring interim CEO Goran Sparrman.
Constantine’s salary as King County executive in 2022 stood at slightly less than $260,000, according to the Association of Washington Cities.
“Being CEO of Sound Transit is a tough job with many constituencies to serve, and Dow has proven over his career in public service that he can deliver large capital projects, successfully oversee a major transit agency, and foster partnerships across our region that are essential to make Sound Transit function at the highest possible level,” the board’s leadership said Monday.
The trio called it “a crucial time for the agency,” citing the need to address operational and maintenance challenges, increased accountability measures and rising financial pressure from inflation and economic uncertainties.
“The search for a new CEO was competitive,” board leadership said. “The Board started with 60 applicants from around the world and narrowed the field from 15 to 5 to 3 and finally to 1. It was a thorough process with significant public input, vigorous discussions, and multiple panels that included transit riders, disability advocates, other regional transit agencies, and labor and economic development organizations.
“We are grateful to the many board members, agency staff, and community partners who provided valuable insights and have put their time and skills toward making sure we had an extensive and thoughtful CEO search process. We look forward to the Board’s decision on Thursday.”
The Sound Transit board meeting is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. inside the Ruth Fisher Board Room in Union Station at 401 S. Jackson Street in Seattle. The public may attend virtually. Information on how to participate can be found at SoundTransit.org/get-to-know-us/board-directors and by clicking “Board meetings.”
