• This Week
• February is Black History Month - 2025
• Vote Tuesday February 11, 2025!
• Metro Snow Routes

Good afternoon neighbors -

On Tuesday, January 28, 2025, I was honored to be appointed to serve as your King County Councilmember representing District 5. This seat was vacated when long-time District 5 Councilmember Dave Upthegrove was successfully elected to Washington State Public Lands Commissioner. 

I was honored to be sworn in by District Court Judge Rebecca Robertson. on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Click the image to watch a video of the ceremony.

Welcome to my e-news!

In this edition, I would like to share some of my background with you. Please know that I hope to have the opportunity to meet you in person at some point as well. 

I am a 23-year Tukwila resident, husband married for just over 20 years and father of two sons. My family considers South King County a great place to live and work. As your representative, I want to work with you to ensure our cities, communities and neighborhoods are a place people are proud to call home.

I come to the job with 16 years of experience serving on the Tukwila City Council where I worked with community leaders on critical issues including public safety, housing, immigration, transportation and protecting the quality of life of residents in the district. I have worked on regional issues affecting South King County for over 20 years both as manager at Metro Transit and for the Department of Natural Resources. I also have experience as a Regional manager for two County Executives. I know the importance of building positive, productive relationships in South King County. We are stronger when we stand shoulder to shoulder, united in our goals.

District 5 includes the cities of Des Moines, Kent, Normandy Park, Renton, Sea-Tac and Tukwila.  We have so much to be proud of in our district from our history with developing early aerospace technology to the current innovative Blue Origin space exploration. District 5 is home to hundreds of small businesses owned by both longtime residents and new immigrant families. We have a rich, diverse population and our schools are bustling with the energy of the up-and-coming generations.

I hope to work with you on issues that affect your quality of life. 

We are launching the e-news with the goal of regularly sharing information about council business, upcoming community events, access to services, and helpful tips as they affect South King County.

If you have something to share, please do not hesitate to contact me at desean.quinn@kingcounty.gov or 206 477-1005.

This Week

On Tuesday, the King County Council passed Ordinance 2025-0016 which makes county code consistent with state law in repealing a requirement for local jails to report an individual’s nationality to federal immigration authorities.  I was pleased to sign on to co-sponsor this with prime sponsor Councilmember Jorge Baron.

The King County Council passed Motion 2025-0047 calling on the County Executive to report back with an assessment of the volatility of federal funding.  You can read that motion here. I was pleased to join my colleagues in a unanimous vote and look forward to receiving this information.

The Housing, Health and Human Services committee (HHHS) received a briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic response and specifically recommendations to ensure we are better prepared going forward. You can read more about recommendations made in 2024-0008 here.

The HHHS committee also received a briefing about Best Starts for Kids and the work that has expanded serving over 150,000 families in 2023 alone.  Report included in Motion 2024-0228 is available here.

In addition, the committee was updated on Mental Illness and Drug Dependency funding.  In 2023, MIDD helped 25,000 individuals get into needed services. You can read more of the report included in Motion 2024-0243 here. I asked for additional information about the behavioral health mobile units and how they can be deployed to District 5.  I will plan to share more information about the mobile response units in an upcoming e-news.

Finally, on Wednesday the Flood Control District met and considered its 2025 workplan. I am serving as your representative on the Flood Control District.  Here are my other committee assignments:

• Chair: Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee (TREE)

• Vice-Chair: Local Services and Land Use Committee

• Member: Budget Committee; Housing, Health and Human Services Committee; and Regional Transit Committee

For more information on 2025 committee assignments for the King County Council, please check Motion 2025-0053.

I am so glad to serve as your representative.    

Sincerely,

De’Sean Quinn

Councilmember, District 5
Des Moines, Kent, Normandy Park, Renton, Sea-Tac, Tukwila

Here's a map of King County Council District 5 -- can you find your D5 neighborhood?

February is Black History Month - 2025

This is a great time to tune into our region’s heritage of Black leaders, artists, and writers.  Below are several events happening in South King County.  You are invited!

February 8 – Renton:  Renton Technical College is hosting an Echoes in Truth Educational Forum featuring Dr. Carl Mack.  Among many accomplishments, Dr. Mack was a leader in establishing the first Minority Engineering Internship Program at King County Metro.  King County recognized Dr. Mack by proclaiming February 12, Dr. Carl Mack Day in 2005.  Click here for more information.

February 20 - Renton:  King County Library is hosting an opportunity to hear from emerging Black authors. Hosted by TraeAnna Holiday from Converge Media.  Click here for more information. 

Click the image to watch Delbert Richardson’s introductory video.

Looking for a way to educate your organization? Check out the The Unspoken Truths: American History Traveling Museum here. King County is among many local organizations who are clients.

Attendees at a previous Northwest African American Museum event. The museum has a host of events scheduled for this year’s Black History Month. (Courtesy Northwest African American Museum)

For more ways to engage in Black History Month –the Seattle Times has provided a list. Click here.

Vote Tuesday February 11, 2025!

Look for a Ballot Drop off box near you, or mail your ballot via US Postal Service.

Your vote counts.  King County Elections wants to make sure your ballot is received. Click here for locations of ballot drop-off boxes. South King County is the proud home of King County Elections – located in Renton!

Metro Snow Routes

Photo Courtesy King County Metro

Know your snow routes. King County Metro has online information about winter weather conditions and alternate routes in case of snow. Click here for more information.  Or, call 206 553-3000 for information about your route.

Thank you for reading our first edition of our e-news.  Please feel free to contact us and share information you have about your city or neighborhood at desean.quinn@kingcounty.gov or 206 477-1005.

De'Sean Quinn
he/him/his
King County Councilmember, District 5
(206) 477-1005  desean.quinn@kingcounty.gov
www.kingcounty.gov/quinn