Information technology innovator is named Chief Information Officer for King County
King County Executive Dow Constantine today appointed William (Bill) Kehoe as the county’s new Chief Information Officer (CIO) and director of the county’s Office of Information Resource Management. Kehoe comes from the Washington State Department of Licensing (DOL) where he has served as the department’s first CIO since 2002.

King County wins four awards for excellence in Information Technology
Technological innovations that improved voting turnout and transparency, increased transit efficiencies, and helped residents better prepare for floods have resulted in four awards for IT excellence for King County.

Executive on Council’s modification of sales tax measure to allow funding for replacement of King County Youth Services Center
King County Executive Dow Constantine this afternoon welcomed modifications made today to the local option sales tax measure adopted last week by the King County Council.

First-ever King County Strategic Plan advances Executive’s reform agenda based on community priorities
King County government will set measurable goals to deliver County services that meet or exceed standards of professionalism, efficiency, quality and customer service, under the first-ever King County Strategic Plan unanimously adopted today by the Metropolitan King County Council.

Constantine, Drago and Patterson thank Puget Sound Regional Council for $15 million grant for replacement of South Park Bridge
King County Executive Dow Constantine and Metropolitan King County Councilmembers Jan Drago and Julia Patterson today thanked the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) for approving a $15 million contribution toward replacement of the South Park Bridge.

Grant funding to put solar panels atop the education center at Brightwater
Friends of the Hidden River, a community group comprised of local teachers, partnered with King County on the design of the Center at Brightwater, which is now in construction just north of Woodinville. Jointly they have secured a $40,000 grant from Snohomish County Public Utility District for the installation of a rooftop solar array on the facility.

Executive praises Council for giving voters the choice of whether to preserve current levels of public safety and health
King County Executive Dow Constantine this afternoon praised the King County Council for its leadership in placing a measure to preserve current levels of public safety and health before voters on the November general election ballot.

Constantine freezes salary and eliminates COLA and step increases for Executive branch appointees, asks other elected officials to do same
Saying he will lead by example to contain the cost of government, King County Executive Dow Constantine today froze his salary and those of his appointed leadership, eliminating the group’s cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) and step increases for next year. As part of his effort to close an estimated $60 million gap in the general fund budget for next year, the Executive also proposed extending an existing countywide hiring freeze by making many current position vacancies permanent.

King County, Seattle receive nearly $1 million in new federal homeless assistance grants; 2010-2011 award total for region exceeds $21 million
The City of Seattle and King County have been awarded nearly $1 million to support the operating costs for two new homeless housing projects opening in 2010, bringing the total for 2010-2011 federal homeless assistance awards to over $21 million for the region. King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn announced the award Thursday, following the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announcement of nationwide awards.

New director appointed to lead county Department of Natural Resources and Parks
King County Executive Dow Constantine has appointed Christie True to lead King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP). True currently serves as the director of DNRP’s Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) and is a 25-year veteran of King County and Metro, where she started work in 1984 as a water quality technician.

King County selected as case study on innovative use of regional indicators and performance measures
Performance management tracking systems developed in King County government could help governments nationwide improve how they track the condition of a community and measure the success of services being provided to their residents.

Executive Constantine outlines actions and investments for saving energy and taxpayer dollars
King County Executive Dow Constantine today unveiled an Energy Plan that will continue and expand County efforts to reduce energy use, stimulate development of green technologies, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save taxpayer dollars.