King County, WA — Councilmember Girmay Zahilay announced this week that he has joined the Sound Cities Association (SCA) for the first time in his new role as King County Executive. The SCA represents more than 38 cities across King County, excluding Seattle, and serves as a collaborative forum for regional leadership.
In a statement, Zahilay emphasized the importance of regional cooperation, noting that many of the county’s most pressing challenges — including homelessness, housing affordability, public safety, and the climate crisis — extend beyond individual city boundaries. “Our fates are intertwined,” he said, stressing that solutions must be regional in scope and effort.
Zahilay pledged to prioritize partnership with the region’s 39 cities and unincorporated areas, committing to honest dialogue, mutual respect, and inclusive engagement. He described the moment as the beginning of a new chapter for King County governance and expressed optimism about working together to make the county “the best region in the nation to live, work, and visit.”