King County Executive Ron Sims praised King County Council's unanimous historic vote approving a new county logo in the image of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Today's vote is the culmination of a 20 year effort to change the King County namesake and then the logo.

"This is a profound and meaningful change that sends a strong and positive message about the values of our government and the people we serve," said Sims. "I commend Council Chairman Larry Gossett for his persistence in making the change."

King County Council Chair Gossett and Executive Sims immediately signed the legislation law, making the new logo effective tomorrow.

Sims noted the broad-based support for the change that began when former councilmember Bruce Laing proposed a motion to change the county's namesake to Dr. King. Since then numerous community and elected leaders worked to change the namesake and then the logo.

Because the new logo honoring the memory of Dr. King is an original graphic image that will be used only for official King County government purposes, the county is not paying a fee to the estate of the slain civil rights leader. Transition to the new logo will take place over five years in order to keep costs minimal. Current supplies of materials with the gold crown logo will be used up before new supplies are ordered with the new logo. The new logo will be applied to new vehicles and equipment as they are purchased. Some signage and electronic templates that involve minimal costs will be changed over within the next few months.

King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng, whose office has used a scales of justice logo for approximately 30 years today announced his office will begin using the new Martin Luther King Jr. logo. He said the image of Dr. King is a powerful symbol of justice that he is proud to use.

"Our old logo, the scales of justice, is a symbol of justice, and more so is our new one," said King County Prosecutor Norm Maleng. "The life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as embodied in our new logo speaks to justice, fairness and independence. It sets a standard for us and the public we serve."

Related information

• Logo Web site
• Executive praises County Council for approval of new logo
• Watch the unveiling at Mt. Zion (Real Media)
• Watch the Council vote (Real Media)
• Executive praises County Council for approval of new logo
• Gable Design Group
• William R. King, Wikipedia
• FAQ's about the new logo
• Photo gallery of the unveiling at Mt. Zion

In the news

• King County: Living up to a king, Seattle Post Intelligencer
• King County's new face, Seattle Times
• Martin Luther King Jr. now the face of King CountyKing 5 News
• One step closer to his dream, Seattle Times
• A first look at King County's new logo: the face of Martin Luther King Jr., Seattle Post Intelligencer
• One step closer to his dream, Seattle Times
• County to adopt Martin Luther King for logo, King 5 News