King County Councilmember Julia Patterson, D-SeaTac, was unanimously elected last week as chairwoman of the council for 2008.

_Councilman Dow Constantine, D-West Seattle, was named Council Vice-Chairman for Policy and Chairman of the Committee of the Whole.

Both represent the Highline area.

"I am honored to have the broad bi-partisan support of my colleagues as council chair," said Patterson.

"In 2008 we will continue to improve the accountability and performance of King County government, while at the same time delivering on our commitments made to voters for new bus service, parks, trails and open space, ferry service, flood protection, and reform of our mental health system."__

Patterson was first elected to the King County Council in 2001. Prior to that, she served on the SeaTac City Council, then represented the 33rd District in the Legislature.

In 2007, she chaired the county council's Committee of the Whole and the King County Board of Health, and took the lead on issues ranging from the regional Roads and Transit package to reforms of the Sheriff's office, Elections Section, and Animal Care and Control.

She also took a leadership role in implementing reforms to King County Elections and King County Animal Control, creating the Independent Office of Law Enforcement Oversight, and examining the quality of health care provided to inmates in the King County jail.

In her two terms on the county council, Patterson has served on numerous regional bodies, including Sound Transit and the Puget Sound Regional Council, working closely with city and county officials from across the region.

She recently chaired an advisory committee of city, business, environmental and civic leaders that recommended preservation and public acquisition of the Eastside BNSF rail corridor.

In 2005, she helped lead the effort to gain broad regional support and passage of the Veterans and Human Services Levy to improve care and services for the most vulnerable in King County.

Patterson has partnered extensively with members of the Republican caucus on reform, accountability and transportation measures.

"I will continue to ask the tough questions and work in partnership with [county] Executive [Ron Sims] on behalf of the people of King County," she said.

Constantine was appointed to the county council in 2002 after service in both the Washington State Senate and House of Representatives. He won re-election to the council in 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2007.

He has served as a member of the council's budget leadership team since 2002, chairing the Operating Budget Committee in 2006 and Capital Budget Committee this year, and serving as chairman of the county's 2007 budget process.

Constantine also chaired the council's Labor, Operations and Technology Committee in 2002-2003 and the Growth Management and Natural Resources Committee in 2004-2006. He currently serves on the Sound Transit Board.

"I'm honored to be chosen for this key King County Council leadership position," said Constantine.

"As vice-chair for policy and chair of the Council's Committee of the Whole, I look forward to working with all my council colleagues to address challenges ranging from transportation to criminal justice to health care."_