King County Executive Girmay Zahilay has transmitted the names of three nominees to fill the vacant District 2 seat on the King County Council, a position he vacated on Nov. 25 when he was sworn in as Executive.
The nominees are District 2 residents Nimco Bulale, Cherryl Jackson-Williams and Rhonda Lewis. Each brings a long-standing record of service to families, youth, small businesses and neighborhoods throughout the district. Zahilay said their experience reflects the deep community roots he prioritized in selecting candidates.
All three nominees are Black women. The person selected will become the first Black woman ever to serve on the King County Council. The appointment will also result in the first majority-woman Council in the county’s history.
This marks Zahilay’s first official transmittal to the Council in his new role as Executive. He is scheduled to transmit his appointments to the Sound Transit Board tomorrow.
From the outset, Zahilay promised to nominate only candidates who committed to serving in an interim, or caretaker, capacity and would not run for the seat in the 2026 election. All three nominees have agreed not to seek the full term, allowing District 2 voters to choose their next councilmember in an open race.
“Nominating possible replacements for my King County Council seat is one of the most important actions I will take in my first month in office, and I am proud to nominate Cherryl Jackson-Williams, Nimco Bulale and Rhonda Lewis,” said Zahilay. “I know that any of the three will continue the important work of representing and fighting for District 2 residents on the King County Council. While any of these three nominees will make history if they are appointed, the most important qualification they bring is their deep experience as community leaders in our region. I look forward to welcoming whomever the King County Council chooses as our newest colleague for 2026, and look forward to a true open seat race next year where voters will choose the permanent office holder.”
“I am grateful to work in partnership with Executive Zahilay to fill the vacancy in Council District 2, ensuring a peaceful transition of power and representation for District 2 residents until they elect their new councilmember in the fall,” said King County Council Chair Sarah Perry. “I look forward to interviewing these excellent candidates, and making an appointment, during our Council Meeting on December 9th. With the selection of our new colleague, I will be honored to be a participant on the first ever majority woman King County Council.”
Zahilay was first elected to the District 2 seat in 2019 and reelected in 2023. This term is shortened to three years under the county’s shift to even-year election cycles. The appointment will last until certification of the 2026 election results, when the elected councilmember will begin a full four-year term.
Here is a closer look at the nominees:
Nimco Bulale brings more than 15 years of experience in policy advocacy, community engagement and coalition building. Born in Somalia and raised in Seattle and South King County, she currently serves as Senior Program Officer at Seattle Foundation for Community Programs and the Neighbor to Neighbor Grant Program, supporting grassroots organizing across South Seattle and South King County. She previously founded South Sound Strategies, a consulting firm assisting grassroots organizations. Bulale holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of Washington and a master’s in public administration from Seattle University.
Cherryl Jackson-Williams is a longtime community leader focused on unincorporated areas of the county, with more than 30 years of experience in behavioral health, social and human services, and family and community engagement. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from the University of Tulsa and a master’s in counseling psychology from the New College of California. Her career has emphasized building partnerships among youth, families, government, nonprofits and private-sector partners to support community-driven change.
Rhonda Lewis has held senior roles in both city and county government. As City Administrator of Tukwila, she expanded services for children, families and seniors and established the city’s Office of Human Services. At King County, she served as Chief of Operations under former Executive Dow Constantine and later as Equity and Social Justice Director for Public Health Seattle-King County. Most recently, she served as Chief of Staff to Zahilay in the District 2 office. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business education and an MBA from the University of Central Oklahoma and completed the Harvard Kennedy School’s Women in Power Intensive program.
The King County Council will make the appointment at its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9.
