Redmond City Council Vice President Allen seeks appointment to Rep. Hunter’s seat

After learning that long-serving 48th District Rep. Ross Hunter (D) was tapped by Gov. Jay Inslee to Head the Department of Early Learning, Redmond City Council member Kim Allen announced that she will seek the appointment from the King County Council to serve out the balance of Hunter’s term.

September 1, 2015 2:24 pm

After learning that long-serving 48th District Rep. Ross Hunter (D) was tapped by Gov. Jay Inslee to Head the Department of Early Learning, Redmond City Council member Kim Allen announced that she will seek the appointment from the King County Council to serve out the balance of Hunter’s term.

According to King County Elections Communications Manager Kim van Ekstrom, the Democratic Party can nominate three people to fill Hunter’s seat for the remainder of his term through the end of 2016. The King County Council has 60 days starting Sept. 8 (when Hunter will assume his new role) to fill the spot with a majority vote. If they don’t fill it by then, Gov. Inslee will appoint a replacement within 30 days.

The 48th District Democrats website states that its board is working with King County Democrats to plan a special election at its regularly scheduled meeting on Sept. 16.

If Allen is selected, van Ekstrom said the Redmond City Council would appoint someone to fill her spot until the next year’s election. Allen’s Position No. 4 term expires Dec. 31, 2017.

“Every year, we on the (Redmond) council grapple with the results of the legislative gridlock on the communities in the 48th District. The things that matter to the Eastside — more transit and roads, preserving the environment, smart growth and an excellent education for every child — need a good strong voice in Olympia with the experience to back it up,” Allen said.

“In city government, we deliver the services people need and we balance our budget every year. My 10-year record of taking the tough votes and getting to yes on the issues that matter will serve the 48th well in Olympia.”

Allen is currently serving as vice chair of the King County Regional Transit Committee, which advises the King County Council on Metro Transit. She formerly served on the King County Growth Management Council and the Regional Law, Safety and Justice Committee, making sure her constituents’ needs were well represented in regional decision making.

Allen lives in the Redmond Education Hill neighborhood with her husband and works as a senior attorney with a Seattle-based land-use and telecommunications law firm.