Ferguson appointed Chair of Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee

January 18, 2011

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During its annual reorganization, the Metropolitan King County Council unanimously appointed Councilmember Bob Ferguson to serve as Chair of the Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee.

“As chair of the Law, Justice, Health, and Human Services Committee, I will focus on my key priorities of keeping the public safe, promoting a fair justice system, protecting the health of our residents, and ensuring a safety net for King County families in need,” said Ferguson.

The Law, Justice, Health and Human Services Committee considers and makes recommendations on policies relating to law, public safety, criminal justice, emergency management, public health, and human services programs.

“This year, the committee will tackle a range of important public safety and criminal justice issues. For example, we will examine the appropriate use of alternatives to detention programs for convicted felons who are awaiting trial on new charges,” said Ferguson, who sponsored legislation last year requesting the court to review this issue and report back to the Council.

“We will also look at the critical health and human needs of county residents and explore how to prioritize and meet these needs. Specifically, we will examine the effectiveness of the Mental Illness and Drug Dependency sales tax and the Veterans and Human Services Levy,” said Ferguson, prime sponsor of these county funding sources for veterans, health, and human services.

Ferguson will also serve on the Committee of the Whole, the Environment and Transportation Committee and the Regional Policy Committee.

Ferguson, a lawyer, is a King County native and lives in North Seattle with his wife, Colleen, and their twins, Jack and Kate. Prior to being elected to the Council, Ferguson spent five years practicing law at Preston, Gates, and Ellis (now K&L Gates) and clerked for federal judges in the Midwest and Eastern Washington. Ferguson represents District 1, which includes North Seattle, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell, and part of Woodinville.