News from the Puget Sound Partnership

MEDIA CONTACT
Katy Johansson
360.725.5442
katy.johansson@psp.wa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
12-17-2007

Regional leaders select Sims to chair Puget Sound Partnership board

OLYMPIA – King County Executive Ron Sims has been selected to chair the Puget Sound Partnership’s 27-member Ecosystem Coordination Board.

“Ron’s ability to bring all players to the table will be invaluable to the Partnership’s effort to restore Puget Sound’s health,” said David Dicks, executive director of the Partnership. “Add to that his longstanding track record on a wide range of environmental issues, including his support of salmon recovery efforts, and I’d say Ron’s the perfect choice.”

Sims said he was honored to be given the opportunity to serve in a leadership role with the Ecosystem Coordination Board.

“I am optimistic that with the commitment from the federal, state and local governments, and the strong engagement of the treaty tribes, we can move quickly to capitalize on the energy around Puget Sound recovery and focus on action,” said Executive Sims. “We are the generation that must take responsibility to protect the Puget Sound as an ecological, economic and cultural asset now and in the future.”

In its first meeting Friday, Dec. 14, the Board nominated Sims and voted to approve his chairmanship.

The Board’s main role is to advise the Leadership Council, the Partnership’s governing body, as it crafts an Action Agenda by Sept. 1, 2008, to clean up and protect Puget Sound.

The Board members, selected in October, represent specific interests around the Sound. A list of those members, as well as information about Board meetings, can be found on the Partnership’s Web site: http://www.psp.wa.gov/about_us/ecosystem.htm

The 2007 Legislature created the Puget Sound Partnership at the request of Gov. Chris Gregoire.

07-017

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