News for Employees from Executive Constantine

Employee Suggestion Program

The Executive Management team is seeking cost-effective, practical ideas to improve county operations, customer service, safety or implement the strategic plan. We know our employees are often the best source of innovative ideas and we look forward to reviewing your suggestions. Thanks for helping to make King County government better. Read more about the program guidelines and submit your ideas.

Executive walk in the shoes of a county employee competition

The "Walk in the Shoes of a County Employee" competition provides employees with an opportunity to give the Executive a glimpse into their average work-day. This competition is open to all King County employees.

How to participate

To participate in the competition, employees need to complete and submit an invitation form, explaining why they would like the County Executive to walk in their shoes. Invitations should include how the position contributes to the success of the department or why their job is important to the residents of King County. Responses can be of any length up to 300 words. Be descriptive. Executive Constantine will choose the winner himself.

Invitation forms should be submitted online or by completing a hard copy of the form and sending it to the Executive via inter-office mail at CNK-EX-0800 c/o Rick Ybarra.

Winning entries are selected quarterly. Invitations not chosen in preceding quarters will remain active for consideration in future competitions.

Submit your invitation to the Executive.

Selection process

Employees selected to work with Executive Constantine may be interviewed and/or photographed by internal or external media about their experience and may have their invitation published on this Web site.

A member of the Executive’s Customer Service Team will:

Notify the winning employee’s Department Director and Division Manager of the employee’s invitation selection
Notify the employee’s union (if applicable)
Determine if the work site has the capacity for the Executive to shadow an employee
Determine whether special attire or equipment is required and address other logistical arrangements on site

For questions about the competition, please contact:

Rick Ybarra, Customer Service Specialist
King County Executive Office,
CNK-EX-0800,
Direct Line: 206-263-9651
E-mail: Rick.Ybarra@kingcounty.gov

Browse pictures from the inaugural Walk a Day with the Executive.

Message from the Executive

Walk in the Shoes of a County Employee on Cougar Mountain

Last month, as part of my quarterly Walk in the Shoes of a County Employee program, I accepted DNRP Park District Maintenance Coordinator Niki McBride’s invitation to come visit her team at Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park near Issaquah.

Niki and I hit the trail to clear brush and fix a ditch. We had sunny skies, but Niki reminded me that employees do this work year round, in snow, rain and other challenging weather conditions.

As County Executive and a lifelong resident of Washington, I am grateful that they’re working to preserve these ecological treasures for future generations of Washingtonians and park visitors.

If you are doing a job that you think I should experience, the next Walk in the Shoes of a County Employee competition opens on Friday, October 7th and closes on Friday, October 21st. I look forward to receiving your invitation.

Sincerely,

Dow Constantine
King County Executive

"Read all about my visit with Niki"