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King County Council approves Phase 1 reorganization; Teresa Zahilay named council chair
Summary
The council adopted Motion 2025-0019 to begin a two-phase reorganization after Councilmember Dave Upthegrove announced he will leave his seat; the motion named Councilmember Teresa Zahilay council chair and Councilmember Bill Perry vice chair, and set a later vote for committee leadership and filling the District 5 vacancy.
The King County Council on Jan. 14 adopted Motion 2025-0019 to begin a two-phase reorganization of council leadership following the impending departure of Councilmember Dave Upthegrove. The motion passed on a recorded vote of 9 ayes and 0 noes.
Jeff Mumm, Chief Policy Officer, briefed the council that the motion implements an initial, limited reorganization: it assigns Councilmember Teresa Zahilay as council chair and Councilmember Bill Perry as vice chair (vice chair for policy and development review) and names Perry vice chair of the employment and administrative committee. The motion also removes Dave Upthegrove from his chair and committee assignments because he will be leaving his council seat to assume statewide office.
Councilmember Zahilay described the step as “phase 1” of reorganization, explaining the full committee leadership realignment will follow after the county fills the expected vacancy in District 5; she said the council will select committee leadership in a second phase “in a couple weeks.” Zahilay thanked colleagues and staff and outlined priorities for 2025, including the biannual budget and several high-stakes community issues.
The council recorded the vote as 9-0. The motion directs the council to implement the named leadership changes immediately and to return for the remaining committee assignments and to fill the District 5 vacancy in subsequent actions.
