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Committee closing in with search for new Sound Transit CEO

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Candidate will be interviewed at Wednesday meeting
 
The CEO Search Committee of the Sound Transit Board today identified a candidate who it will interview in executive session on Wednesday.
 
Over the past two months the committee has conducted a national search for a new CEO.  Out of more than 190 applicants, an executive search firm narrowed the candidate pool to 13 finalists based on qualifications identified by the committee. The committee unanimously voted to interview one candidate from the pool in executive session. After the interview, the committee will discuss next steps. To attract a large pool of highly qualified candidates, the committee assured the applicants of confidentiality throughout the process.  
 
The CEO Search Committee is chaired by Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine. Other participating Board members include Fred Butler, mayor of Issaquah; Dave Earling, mayor of Edmonds; Joe McDermott of the King County Council; Ed Murray, mayor of Seattle; and Marilyn Strickland, mayor of Tacoma. Current Sound Transit CEO Joni Earl also sits on the committee.
 
The Board created the committee in response to Joni Earl’s announcement last May that she will retire in the first quarter of 2016 after Sound Transit opens the University Link light rail extension. Earl, who has been on medical leave since April 2014, will help with the transition to a new CEO.
 
Deputy CEO Mike Harbour, who did not apply for the CEO position, will continue to serve as the agency’s Acting CEO during the transition to a new leader.
 
The CEO Search Committee will make a recommendation to the 18-member Sound Transit Board for consideration.  The Board may accept the committee’s recommendation or continue the search process.  
 
Early next year Sound Transit will open the University Link light rail extension more than six months early and approximately $150 million under budget. In the next eight years Sound Transit remains on track to complete more than 30 additional miles of light rail extensions. With transit demand and the region’s population growing fast, the Sound Transit Board is working to shape a Sound Transit 3 ballot measure for voter consideration in November 2016 to further extend light rail and other regional transit investments.