With Sound Transit making major decisions this year on a regional proposal for expansion of light rail, King County Executive and Sound Transit Chair Dow Constantine made two new appointments and three reappointments to the Sound Transit Board of Directors.

He appointed Seattle City Councilmember Rob Johnson to a four-year term and Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus to a two-year term.

“As the longtime director of the Transportation Choices Coalition, Rob brings exceptional knowledge and experience to the important decisions the Sound Transit Board must make this year,” Constantine said. “My thanks to Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien for his years of service and his contributions to mobility in the city and the region.”

“Having strong local board representation from South King County is crucial as we work to extend light rail south to Federal Way and Tacoma, and Mayor Backus has proven herself to be a solid advocate for transit for the people of the region,” Constantine said. “As the nominee for incoming president of the Sound Cities Association, Nancy will provide the leadership to build consensus among our partners in the region.”

The Executive also reappointed Metropolitan King County Councilmember Joe McDermott and Redmond Mayor John Marchione to new four-year terms. He also appointed Boardmember Claudia Balducci, whose current term expires in 2017, to a new four-year term that expires on Dec. 31, 2019.

Ten of the 18 seats on the Sound Transit Board are assigned to King County on the basis of population. State law sets specific requirements for the distribution of appointments – among them the inclusion of an elected official from the largest city within each county, and proportional representation from other areas within the boundaries of Sound Transit. To promote integration of regional and local transit services, state law also requires that at least half of appointees from each county also serve on the governing authority of a local public transportation system.

The Metropolitan King County Council must confirm the Executive’s appointees. The first Sound Transit Board meeting of the new year is set for Thursday, January 28.