East King County property owner joan burlingame is King County's new rural liaison. burlingame, a long time advocate for protecting rural water supplies and the environment, will work to increase understanding of county land use regulations and help the county identify ways it can increase flexibility while still meeting its goals.

"I admire joan's independence," said Sims. "She has worked hard to ensure Rock Creek is protected and now she will bring her advocacy and her experience as a rural resident to this important position. joan has admonished us and supported us, her integrity is unassailable."

As the rural liaison for King County, burlingame will listen to the concerns of landowners in the rural areas of King County, address their questions and concerns, and provide feedback to county staff on the thoughts and ideas of people who own land in the rural area. burlingame began working in this new position on March 1, 2005.

"I have been a rural King County resident for 25 years and I look forward to working directly with rural neighbors throughout the county," said joan burlingame. "I accepted this position because I believe that I have the skills to help clarify the different elements of various county ordinances, allowing us, the rural residents of King County, to pass on a healthy, vibrant rural area to our children's children.

"The appointment of a rural liaison will enable the county to get accurate information about these new development rules directly to rural residents and the liaison can bring rural concerns to the departments, the executive and the Council," said County Councilmember Dow Constantine, chair of the Growth Management and Unincorporated Areas Committee. "The executive has made a good choice in joan -she's always been a strong advocate for being a good steward of the land."

A longtime environmentalist and land rights person, burlingame grew up on a cattle farm in Michigan.

Updated: March 14, 2005