Zahilay selected as Chair of the King County Council for 2025

January 14, 2025

The King County Council on Tuesday unanimously selected Councilmember Girmay Zahilay as its Chair for 2025. Councilmembers Sarah Perry and Reagan Dunn were also elected as Vice Chairs. Zahilay takes over from Councilmember Dave Upthegrove, who served as Chair for the past two years.

“Serving as chair of the King County Council and leader of the legislative branch is an honor,” Zahilay said. “I’m grateful for the trust of my colleagues, and the work of our outgoing Council Chair Upthegrove. This is a pivotal moment for our community, and I’m committed to advancing policies that help all our residents, businesses, and the environment thrive. Together, we will tackle the challenges that lie ahead — whether improving our public services, making neighborhoods more safe, addressing the housing crisis, or strengthening our economy.” 

Zahilay plans to prioritize efficient governance during his term as Council Chair, ensuring Council operations run smoothly while effectively addressing the region's most pressing challenges. The Council has a robust agenda in 2025, with expected votes on several legislative appointments, levy renewals, independent agency reappointments, the next biennial budget, and more.

Zahilay laid out several priorities for the year, including:

• Balancing the county budget in the face of a projected $150 million shortfall
• Collaborating with local and regional partners to tackle cross-jurisdictional issues such as homelessness, public safety, economic development, behavioral health, climate change, and transportation
• Strengthening county governance, public accountability, and transparency

Once Council selects an appointee to fill the open District 5 seat, committee assignments will be determined and members will vote in February to approve that portion of the reorganization.