As the new chair of the Metropolitan King County Council, Councilmember Larry Phillips said he will set a course that better connects King County government with the people it serves.

“We need to forge a closer relationship with citizens who want to make their regional government work,” said Phillips. “Citizens should expect the best from County government, and as their local elected representatives we need to work to make that happen. This Council will set the policies and provide the oversight to ensure we deliver the reliable services that people have come to expect. And part of that mission includes making sure people understand just what it is that King County does for them.”

Phillips will chair his first meeting of the King County Council today at 1:30 p.m. He said among his goals this year is to make the Council’s work more visible to the public by taking the Council’s Committee of the Whole briefings on the road throughout the year.

”We like to say that every time you step on a Metro bus or call 911, you’re using a service provided by King County,” said Phillips. “But King County is much, much more. Every time you go to a restaurant – whether it’s in Seattle, North Bend or Vashon – the county has made sure it’s a safe place to eat. Whenever a felon – like Gary Ridgway – is arrested and tried, King County is working to protect you. When there is a regional emergency, natural or man-made, King County plays a vital role in coordinating emergency response services. Whenever you enjoy a concert in Marymoor Park, applaud athletic achievements at the Weyerhaeuser Aquatic Center, marvel at the exhibits at the King County Fair, or simply flush a toilet, you’re visiting or using a county facility. We want people to be involved in shaping the future of King County, and the best way is to go to them to discuss the challenges facing our communities.”