The King County Council approved the appointment of John Taylor as the first director of the newly-formed Department of Local Services on Monday, Dec. 10.

In October, County Executive Dow Constantine selected Taylor to lead the Department of Local Services. The new department is an agency created to better meet the unique needs of unincorporated King County.

Starting Jan. 1, nearly 250,000 residents living in unincorporated King County will have a county department focusing on their needs.

“John Taylor will provide the leadership our new department needs to deliver outstanding service to the quarter-million people of unincorporated King County,” Constantine said in an October press release.

Executive Constantine added that he wants the Department of Local Services to start with a strong foundation that will empower employees to achieve the “highest level of customer satisfaction.” He believes Taylor will promote that type of workplace culture.

As the first director of the department, Taylor will focus on coordinating with councilmembers of the rural areas, deliver streamlined and responsive relationships with unincorporated King County communities, coordinating and collaborating in service delivery to unincorporated communities with partnering agencies including state, county and local organizations.

Taylor noted that Executive Constantine wants everyone living in unincorporated King County to have their own version of a city hall – a “hub” that coordinates services to improve their quality of life.

“Having a new department dedicated to unincorporated communities will make it easier for us to deliver direct services that would be unmatched in any city,” Taylor said.

Taylor earned his master’s degree in public administration from the University of Vermont. He’s worked for King County since 2013 as assistant director of the Water and Land Resource Division. Taylor has had experience in other government positions in Seattle and Vermont.

According to Councilmember Kathy Lambert, Taylor has already established working relationships with citizens in the unincorporated area.

“I’m excited that John will be taking on this new vitally important position, and I am confident in his ability to listen and respond to the unique needs of unincorporated residents around the county,” Lambert said.

The Department of Local Services will be funded by existing revenues. To see the press release, go online to www.kingcounty.gov.