Metropolitan King County Councilmembers Larry Gossett and Larry Phillips say there will never be a better time to replace the imperial crown that has been the logo for King County with the image of the county’s namesake, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A proposed ordinance establishing the likeness of the slain civil rights leader as the official symbol of King County, along with a plan for phased implementation, was put before the Council today for consideration at its next meeting on January 17, 2006.

“This year, the state of Washington officially renamed King County in recognition of our effort to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King,” said Councilmember Larry Gossett, ordinance sponsor. “It is fitting that in the year we will celebrate twenty years as Martin Luther King, Jr. County, we will finally begin the process that will lead us to a logo that displays his image.”

“With this legislation, we would join both the state of Washington and the city of Seattle in having official logos that recognize the men after whom they are named,” said Council Chair Larry Phillips. “I want the Council to take the lead on creating a logo that not only recognizes Dr. King but becomes the symbol of our region, and a celebration of the rich cultural diversity of a county that is the embodiment of Dr. King’s ‘Beloved Community.’”

The current official logo of King County is a crown inside two circles. The proposed ordinance would direct the Executive to design a new logo in the likeness of Dr. King, along with graphic standards, guidelines and procedures for using it.

The proposal calls for existing stocks of letterhead, envelopes and business cards to be depleted before new stocks are ordered, adding no incremental cost to the county. For such durable items as vehicles and signage, the proposal calls for the estimated replacement costs of $597,000 to be spread equally over five years, for an average cost of about $119,400 per year.

The proposed ordinance would prohibit the use of the new logo for purposes of fundraising or solicitation of donations, other than to the county and its Employee Charitable Campaign, or to advertise or promote commercial events or merchandise, goods or services.

The estate of Dr. King retains the rights to the commercial use of his likeness. During today’s meeting, Councilmember Gossett said staff will be communicating between now and January 17th with the King estate on amendments that would “better perfect” specifics of the proposed ordinance.

When created by the territorial legislature in 1852, King County was named after U.S. Vice President and slaveowner William Rufus DeVane King. On February 24, 1986, the King County Council passed a motion changing the county’s eponym to that of Dr. King. That motion did not have the force of law until the state Legislature earlier this year approved and Governor Gregoire signed Engrossed Senate Bill 5332 renaming King County.

If the new logo is adopted, King County would join Seattle and the state of Washington in having logos that bear the likenesses of their namesakes. Since 1937 Seattle’s corporate seal has borne the image of Chief Sealth. The likeness of George Washington has graced the seal of the state of Washington since statehood in 1889.

“This is an effort that spans three decades,” said Councilmember Gossett. “Replacing our current logo would give future generations a visible reminder of Dr. King the man. It would become a living symbol of the county that strives towards achieving the goals for which he gave his life.”

Read more about this legislation on the King County Council’s LEGISEARCH system.
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