State Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D-Des Moines) has formally announced he will run for the King County Council seat being vacated by Julia Patterson.

Patterson announced April 26 she will not seek re-election after serving 23 years in public office. She has served the SeaTac area in the SeaTac City Council, state Legislature and county council. Upthegrove has worked as her aide.

Patterson told the Highline Times May 1 that she is endorsing Upthegrove.

“He is extremely well prepared,” Patterson declared. “He’s a south county guy like I am a south county girl.”

Patterson said she is unaware of anyone else planning to run for her seat.

Here is an excerpt from Upthegrove’s press release:

Born and raised in South King County, Dave Upthegrove believes the best way he can give back is to deliver results.

Dave began his public service as Senior Legislative Assistant to then-Senator Julia Patterson (D-SeaTac).

In 2001, Dave was appointed unanimously by the King County Council to fill a legislative vacancy and has been elected by his community five times to represent them in Olympia.

As a legislator, Dave helped secure funding for light rail in SeaTac to help commuters and prioritized improvements to congested intersections in Kent to ensure freight mobility.

Dave also passed legislation to clean up toxics in the soil in playgrounds in Highline and Kent, and has kept local parks– such as Saltwater State Park and Flaming Geyser State Park off the closure lists.

For this, Dave was recognized by the Washington Conservation Voters in 2011 as the Legislator of the Year.

Among his leadership positions in government and community, his passions are his service on the Board of the Matt Griffin YMCA in SeaTac and his volunteer work with the We The People and Project Citizen civic education programs in our local public schools.

Seeking balance in his life, and following a passion, Dave recently left a position on the King County Council staff to become certified as a basketball official. He now works professionally, part-time, as a basketball referee for youth and adult basketball leagues throughout the region.

Dave holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Conservation with a minor in Biology from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a Certificate in Energy Policy Planning from the University of Idaho.