Council Vice Chair Bob Ferguson has become chair of the King County Council following today’s certification of the election making Dow Constantine King County’s new executive. Constantine served as chair prior to assuming the county executive position.

“A number of crucial issues are currently before the council. My goal is to ensure that we address these issues through the bipartisan cooperation that culminated in Monday’s unanimous vote on the 2010 budget,” said Ferguson.

Ferguson outlined four immediate goals to be addressed by the council:

• Fill the council seat vacated by Constantine;

• Select an option for replacing the deteriorated Youth Services Center, whose current facilities located at 12th Avenue and East Alder Street in Seattle are in disrepair;

• Advance King County’s role in a multi-jurisdictional partnership to purchase the BNSF Eastside Rail Corridor for public ownership;

• Continue oversight of the potential flood threat from the federally owned and operated Howard Hanson Dam. As this year’s chair of the Committee of the Whole, Ferguson held numerous hearings on the efforts to protect the Green River valley from potential flood waters.

Ferguson, a King County native, was elected to the County Council in 2003. Following the reduction of the 13-member council to nine, Ferguson won his current seat representing District 1 in 2005 with 74 percent of the vote. District 1 includes Bothell, Kenmore, North Seattle, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and parts of Woodinville and unincorporated King County. He ran unopposed in 2009.

Ferguson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and his law degree from New York University. Prior to joining the County Council, he practiced law at Preston, Gates and Ellis and is a licensed Washington attorney.

Ferguson will serve as chair as the council completes its 2010 reorganization. The council’s annual reorganization process, which traditionally occurs in January, determines committee memberships and council leadership, including chair.