The Municipal League of Seattle and King County released their 2005 County Council Candidate ratings last week.

The list of seven South County candidates was lead by sitting Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer who received a "Very Good" by the independent organization.

"I am honored to have received the highest rating of all South County candidates" said von Reichbauer.

"This recognition of my work on the council is appreciated, but my first priority in this campaign is to work hard to earn the trust of the new citizens of District Seven," he said.

An initiative to reduce the size of the 13 member King County Council was approved by the voters last November. The new nine-district council map includes roughly 55,000 more people per district.

Von Reichbauer's Democratic challenger in the race received a rating of "Adequate," as did Republican challenger to Councilmember Julia Patterson in the County's Fifth district; Patterson received a "Good."

In the tightly contested Republican Primary battle in the Ninth District between sitting Councilmembers Reagan Dunn and Steve Hammond, Dunn earned a rating of "Good," while Steve Hammond received an "Adequate" rating. Their Democratic challenger, Shirley Gaunt Smith, was also given a rating of "Adequate" by the League.