Kirkland City Manager Kurt Triplett was presented with the Martin Luther King Medal of Distinguished Service by King County Council Chair Claudia Balducci on Tuesday, October 26, 2021. This Metropolitan King County Council award recognizes individuals whose work has answered the question asked by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “What are you doing for others?”
“This year, I presented the District 6 medal to Kurt Triplett in recognition of his leadership during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Kirkland was at the very leading edge of the pandemic in the United States,” said Council Chair Balducci. “His leadership undoubtedly saved lives, as well as guided Kirkland and the Eastside through one of the biggest threats to our community in our lifetimes.”
For decades, Triplett has dedicated his life to public service across King County, including the last 11 years as City Manager for Kirkland. The City of Kirkland operates as a council-manager form of government. The City Manager serves as the professional administrator of the City and is responsible for coordinating all day-to-day operations.
“On behalf of the Kirkland City Council, we would like to congratulate Kurt on this well-deserved honor and thank him for his steadfast leadership in the face of a global crisis,” said Kirkland Mayor Penny Sweet. “We are fortunate to have such a gifted, dedicated, and compassionate leader to guide our City government and ensure that our community’s goals and visions come to fruition.”
Prior to his service as Kirkland City Manager, Triplett worked for King County for 17 years, including serving as the Interim County Executive in 2009, Chief of Staff to Executive Ron Sims, Deputy Director of Natural Resources and Parks, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Executive Sims and former Executive Gary Locke. He currently serves on the Board for A Regional Coalition for Housing. He is also chair of the Eastside Public Safety Communications Agency as well as a joint board member for the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network.
The ideals of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the foremost civil and human rights leader in the United States, are held high at King County. King County was redesignated in his honor, and the county logo bears his likeness. Dr. King’s vision of equity and social justice is infused throughout the programs and services of county government. This marks the sixth year that King County Councilmembers have each selected someone from their district whose work embodies the spirit of King’s question to be awarded the Martin Luther King Medal of Distinguished Service.
