|
Summary
Executive Zahilay has transmitted three nominees to the King County Council for consideration. All three nominees have vowed to serve as an interim member and will not run in the 2026 election.
Story
Today, King County Executive Girmay Zahilay transmitted the names of three nominees to replace him as the King County Councilmember for District 2. He sent the names to the King County Council, which will make an appointment from the nominees at their meeting on Tuesday, December 9. The vacancy was created when Executive Zahilay resigned from the King County Council on November 25 when he was sworn in as Executive. This transmittal is Executive Zahilay's very first to the Council in his new role. Tomorrow, he is scheduled to transmit his appointments to the Sound Transit Board.
The nominees are District 2 residents Cherryl Jackson-Williams, Nimco Bulale, and Rhonda Lewis (bios below). All three have long records of service to communities throughout District 2. They have worked in a variety of roles supporting families, young people, small businesses, and neighborhoods in the district. Their experience reflects the deep community roots that Executive Zahilay prioritized for this appointment.
All three nominees are Black women, and whoever is appointed by the Council will become the first ever Black woman to serve on the King County Council in its history. Also, whoever is chosen will create the first ever majority-woman King County Council in its history.
From the moment he was named the winner of the race for King County Executive, Zahilay promised to nominate only people who vow to serve as interim appointments and will not run for the full term when it is up in 2026. Appointing a “caretaker” ensures a more transparent and democratic process so that District 2 voters will get to choose their permanent County Councilmember in an open seat race. All three nominees have vowed to serve in this caretaker role and not run for the full term if they are appointed.
“Nominating possible replacements for my King County Council seat is one of the most important actions I will take in my first month in office, and I am proud to nominate Cherryl Jackson-Williams, Nimco Bulale, and Rhonda Lewis. I know that any of the three will continue the important work of representing and fighting for District 2 residents on the King County Council,” said King County Executive Girmay Zahilay. “While any of these three nominees will make history if they are appointed, the most important qualification they bring is their deep experience as community leaders in our region. I look forward to welcoming whomever the King County Council chooses as our newest colleague for 2026, and look forward to a true open seat race next year where voters will choose the permanent office holder.”
“I am grateful to work in partnership with Executive Zahilay to fill the vacancy in Council District 2, ensuring a peaceful transition of power and representation for District 2 residents until they elect their new councilmember in the fall," said King County Council Chair Sarah Perry. “I look forward to interviewing these excellent candidates, and making an appointment, during our Council Meeting on December 9th. With the selection of our new colleague, I will be honored to be a participant on the first ever majority woman King County Council."
Executive Zahilay was first elected to represent District 2 in 2019 and was reelected in 2023. This term is a shortened one, only three years, to align with the voter-approved changes to King County’s elected offices as they move to even-year elections. The appointment will last through results certification in November 2026, when the winner of the election will be sworn in to the next full four-year term.
Nominee bios:
Cherryl Jackson-Williams is a seasoned community leader committed to building thriving, equitable communities-with a focus specifically towards Unincorporated Communities. With more than 30 years of experience spanning Behavioral Health, Social and Human Services, and Family and Community Engagement, she has dedicated her career to fostering authentic partnerships between youth and families, government agencies, nonprofits, and private-sector partners. Her work is rooted in the belief that when communities lead, systems can transform—and collective action becomes possible.
Cherryl holds a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from the University of Tulsa and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the New College of California. Her lifelong devotion to youth and family development is personal as well as professional; having benefited from youth and family programs as a child, tween, and teen, she understands firsthand the power of supportive networks and responsive systems. These early experiences fuel her commitment to ensuring that today’s children and families have access to the same stabilizing, empowering opportunities.
Nimco Bulale is a champion of community power, equity, and systems change, grounded in lived experience and over 15 years of leadership across policy advocacy, community engagement, and coalition building. Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, and raised in Seattle and South King County, Nimco’s journey reflects resilience, deep public service, and a lifelong commitment to strengthening communities most impacted by systemic inequities.
In 2025, Nimco joined Seattle Foundation as the Senior Program Officer for Community Programs and the Neighbor to Neighbor (N2N) Grant Program, where she supports grassroots community organizing and capacity-building efforts across South Seattle and South King County. Through N2N, she invests in BIPOC-led, immigrant and refugee-led, and youth-led initiatives advancing racial equity, community power-building, and systems-change strategies.
Prior to joining Seattle Foundation, Nimco founded and led South Sound Strategies, a consulting firm dedicated to supporting grassroots organizations through grant writing, technical assistance, and equity-centered capacity building. She has been a consultant for the City of Seattle’s Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, and worked at OneAmerica and East African Community Services.
Nimco holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Washington and a Master of Public Administration from Seattle University, with a specialization in nonprofit leadership and local government administration.
Rhonda Lewis brings extensive local government knowledge and deep expertise in public service. Her career spans multiple leadership roles across city and county government, with a consistent focus on equity, community engagement, and operational excellence.
Rhonda served as City Administrator of Tukwila, where she directed operations for a city serving a daytime population of over 100,000 people. During her tenure she established the city's Office of Human Services, significantly expanding services for children, families, and seniors.
At King County, Rhonda served as Chief of Operations for King County Executive Dow Constantine, overseeing nine departments with approximately 12,000 employees. In this role, she directed the creation of King County's first Zero Youth Detention Strategic Plan and led the development of the county's inaugural Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan. She subsequently served as Equity and Social Justice Director for Public Health Seattle-King County before serving as Chief of Staff to then-King County Councilmember Zahilay in his District 2 office.
Rhonda is an alumna of the University of Central Oklahoma, holding a Bachelor's degree in Business Education and a Master of Business Administration. She is also a graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School's Women in Power Intensive program.
|
