SEATTLE — Two candidates are vying for King County’s top role in the upcoming November election.
Girmay Zahilay is facing Claudia Balducci in hopes of becoming the King County executive, a role that oversees 18,000 employees and is tasked with balancing a multi-billion-dollar budget.
In the primary, Zahilay advanced with 44% of the votes to Balducci’s 30% of the votes.
However, on Nov. 4, Balducci is looking to swing those tallies in her favor.
“In a way, without planning it, I’ve spent like my whole life preparing for this job,” said Balducci, the former mayor of Bellevue.
Zahilay has raised $1.2 million in campaign contributions, with Balducci just shy at $916,000. Adding up the money raised and spent by the candidates, this is the most expensive showdown in Washington this year, even surpassing the Seattle mayoral race.
Money plays a big role in the executive job.
Last year, Zahilay served as the budget chair and balanced a $10 million budget, he said. Balducci has balanced a budget of $100 million when she oversaw the Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention and its 1,000-plus employees.
Zahilay is the current chair of the King County Council, a position Balducci also held in 2020. Now, she’s setting her sights on making history as the first woman elected to the executive role.
Whoever voters choose will tackle some of the county’s biggest challenges, from public safety to homelessness, housing and transportation.
“I want buses and trains to show up quickly and reliably and I want people who get on that bus or that train to be as safe as possible,” Zahilay said.
트위터 공유: 킹 카운티장 선거 Zahilay vs Balduc치 역사적 대결