Delegation of Authority During Absence of the Executive and Line of Succession

Signed document (PDF, 64 KB)

An Executive Order superseding Executive Order ACO 8-1-29 (AEO) delegating authority when the Executive is absent and designating a line of succession in the event of a vacancy in the elective office of the County Executive.

WHEREAS, I, Dow Constantine, am the duly elected King County Executive, having assumed said position on November 24, 2009, and

WHEREAS, from time to time the King County Executive may be absent from King County or otherwise unavailable to sign official documents or take other official actions; and

WHEREAS, it will be necessary during those occasions for various official documents and ordinances to be signed to carry on King County's business and for various orders and directions to be given on behalf of the Executive; and

WHEREAS, the King County Executive may be unavailable to direct implementation of the King County Emergency Services Operations Plan; and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to satisfy Federal and Washington State legal requirements that the Emergency Services Operations Plan indicate the name of the individuals responsible for implementing the Plan during periods of natural or war-caused disaster; and

WHEREAS, in the event of an emergency, King County Code Section 12.52.030 delineates the emergency powers of the King County Executive after the Executive has formally proclaimed in writing the existence of an emergency; and

WHEREAS, Article 8, Section 850, of the King County Charter provides for the delegation of Executive powers and duties, except in the veto power, to be assumed and carried out in the Executive's absence; and

WHEREAS, Article 6, Section 680.10, of the King County Charter requires the Executive to designate an interim official in the event of a vacancy in the elective office of the County Executive;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Dow Constantine, King County Executive, do hereby order and direct that the following individuals are designated to act on my behalf in my absence and delegate to each my powers and duties, except the veto power, to be assumed and carried out by:

(1) Deputy County Executive: Fred Jarrett
(2) Assistant Deputy County Executive: Rhonda Berry
(3) Office of Management and Budget Director: Dwight Dively
(4) County Administrative Officer: Caroline Whalen
(5) Department of Transportation Director: Harold Taniguchi
(6) Department of Development and Environmental Services Director: John Starbard
(7) All other department directors in order of tenure

FURTHERMORE, I officially designate the following individuals to serve as interim County Executive in the event of a vacancy in the elective office of the County Executive:

(1) Deputy County Executive: Fred Jarrett
(2) Assistant Deputy County Executive: Rhonda Berry
(3) Office of Management and Budget Director: Dwight Dively
(4) County Administrative Officer: Caroline Whalen
(5) Department of Transportation Director: Harold Taniguchi
(6) Department of Development and Environmental Services Director: John Starbard
(7) All other department directors in order of tenure

DATED this 8 day of April 2011

/s/ Dow Constantine, King County Executive

Attest:

/s/ Lorraine Paterson, Director
Records and Licensing Services Division