Directors of two King County departments step down

Appointees from the Sims and Triplett administrations both cite personal reasons for departures

The directors of the King County Department of Natural Resources and of the county's Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention today both submitted their resignations from their positions. Theresa Jennings and Kathy Van Olst made their personal decisions earlier this week and informed the office of the County Executive today.

"I'm sorry to lose two really capable leaders from the Sims and Triplett administrations, and I accept Theresa and Kathy's decisions with much thanks for their outstanding service to the people of King County, said King County Executive Dow Constantine. "I look forward to working with each of them to identify the best new leaders for their agencies, and I wish them both the best in their future endeavors."

Jennings said she is stepping down to spend more time with her daughter. "I am excited to have made my decision to step away and spend more time with my family," said Jennings, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP). "This is a decision I've made after giving it a lot of thought. I will miss the opportunity to work with the new leadership that Executive Constantine will provide, but I know he is highly committed to our department's success and will appoint an outstanding director to take my place."

Jennings has served 17 years in county government over two different periods of time since 1989. For the past six-and-a-half years she served as director of the county's Solid Waste Division and then as Director of DNRP. She's also served as the assistant director of utilities for the City of Norfolk, Virginia's Department of Utilities, and property services manager for the Washington State Major League Baseball Stadium Public Facilities District.

Kathy Van Olst was recruited away from her position at the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) with the opportunity to become a Senior Trial Attorney at the Prosecuting Attorney's Office. "I am sad to leave the wonderful staff at DAJD, and I am very proud of what we have accomplished together" said Van Olst. "I think this is an exciting time for DAJD to continue with a regional approach to jail services and I'm sure that will happen under Executive Constantine."

Van Olst came to DAJD from a position as Chief Deputy in the Prosecutor's Office managing the new Complex Prosecutions and Investigations Division, She previously served as Assistant Chief Deputy to the Criminal Division helping to manage operations that included 250 employees and 20,000 criminal cases annually.

Department and Division Director positions in King County government are appointed by the Executive and confirmed by the County Council.