Shoreline Councilman Will Hall Seeks King County Council District 1 Seat

Shoreline City Councilmember Will Hall confirmed Wednesday that he will seek appointment to the King County Council when Bob Ferguson leaves to become Washington State Attorney General.

“Executive Dow Constantine and the County Council have done a great job streamlining government to maintain services through the most difficult economic conditions of our lifetime,” Hall said.  “It would be an honor to help them carry that work forward and continue to make King County one of the most efficient, sustainable local governments in the region.”

Hall is seeking to fill the Council District 1 position, that Ferguson has held since 2004.  His election as Attorney General will result in a vacancy representing the north King County district that covers Woodinville, Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Shoreline, and parts of Kirkland and Seattle.

To fill the vacancy, the County Executive will go through a process to identify and nominate three qualified candidates.  The County Council will have up to 60 days after the vacancy occurs to make an appointment. The position will be up for election in 2013.

Hall has served the City of Shoreline for nine years as a planning commissioner, city councilmember, and deputy mayor.  

“Will is deeply committed to public service,” said Shoreline City Councilmember Shari Winstead, who also served as a former chief of staff to Ferguson while he was on the King County Council.  “His experience with local government and planning has really helped the city council and the whole community.”

Winstead told Patch last month that she decided not to seek the position should Ferguson win.

It would be a smooth transition, said Hall, since he already meets monthly with county and city elected officials on the King County Council Regional Policy Committee, which reviews and recommends policies that affect the county and the cities.

“Will is highly knowledgeable and thoughtful about decisions that impact cities,” said Federal Way City Councilmember Dini Duclos.  “He works well with all committee members and listens to all.  I feel he will bring these skills and assets to the County Council and will be an outstanding addition.”

 City of Snoqualmie Mayor Matt Larson is also on the committee, and he agrees.  

“I think Will would be an excellent County Councilmember.  He is always well prepared, intently listens to all sides in a debate, is forward-looking, and is open to new approaches to regional challenges.”

Seattle City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw works with Hall on the board of the regional economic development council, enterpriseSeattle, and on issues involving the City of Seattle and Shoreline.

“Will is a great partner.  He is an innovator, working to promote jobs and the economy while protecting our environment and quality of life in the Pacific Northwest,” said Bagshaw.  “He will bring experience, wisdom and a collaborative approach to the County Council.”

Hall says his 13 years of county government experience will help him be successful in the position.  He held supervisory and management jobs in the Snohomish County Planning and Public Works departments before taking a senior staff position with the Snohomish County Council in 2008.  Hall works on legislative issues at the city, county, and state level.

Snohomish County Council Chair Brian Sullivan has high praise for Hall.  “I enjoyed working with him in the planning department even before I was elected to the County Council,” said Sullivan.  “The work he’s done on controversial land use issues and tough county budgets is outstanding.  He’s a true public servant, always willing and able to help find a solution that works for everybody.”

 Hall represents cities on the Puget Sound Partnership board working to protect and restore Puget Sound.  

The Chair of that board, Snohomish County Councilmember Dave Somers, says, “Will is a proven leader at building coalitions to protect and restore the environment while promoting quality economic development.  He is a real expert at integrating land use, transportation, and economic development in a sustainable way.” 

Hall attributes part of his success in county government to his business experience.  

“As a manager at Accenture, my job was to help clients change to be more successful,” said Hall.  “I spent five years working in partnership with public and private organizations to streamline their processes and make their systems more efficient.”  

Hall also led information technology and process redesign projects for the University of Washington, and he owned a small consulting business for five years.

“Taxpayers demand that governments be efficient and accountable,” said Hall.  “We have major challenges in front of us to maintain our roads, improve our transit, and provide services to a growing population.  We have to do that with limited resources, and at a time when public trust in government is still very low.  I would welcome the opportunity to work with Executive Constantine and the County Council on their ongoing efforts to overcome these challenges.”

Hall, 49, grew up in unincorporated King County between Renton and Bellevue.  He has degrees from the University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Washington.  He moved to Seattle in 1991 and then Shoreline in 2000.  He is married to Laurie Lindblad, a native of south King County.

“Growing up here, Laurie and I are connected to the community.  We’ve hiked all over the Cascades, gone scuba diving in Puget Sound, and enjoyed the social, cultural, and neighborhood events that make King County a special place,” said Hall.  “We also believe in giving back to our community, as we have for many years.  I would be honored to take that service to the next level on the King County Council.”