Ron Sims Throws Hat In Ring For Governor

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By By KOMO Staff & News Services

Summary

The 55-year-old King County Executive will announce his bid for governor on Tuesday.

Story Published: Jul 28, 2003 at 8:57 PM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 1:07 AM PDT

Ron Sims Throws Hat In Ring For Governor
OLYMPIA - Ron Sims, Washington's top black politician, jumped into the governor's race Tuesday, declaring himself a hands-on problem-solver who can bring an outsider's perspective to fix what ails Olympia.

Sims, 55, the King County government leader for the past seven years, drew a mighty roar from about 100 backers when he declared, "I'm announcing I will be a candidate for governor of Washington. I am running to improve the quality of life in Washington.

"I want to be a leader. I have a demonstrable record of leadership. We need to get the people's work done."

Sims hammered on the theme of leadership, criticizing by inference his own party's governor, Gary Locke, and his key rival for the Democratic nomination, Attorney General Christine Gregoire.

"I'm not going to Olympia to join the culture," he said. "I'm going to Olympia to change the culture."

He portrayed Olympia as captive to "conflict and posturing" and said a true leader can bring together people of all stripes and viewpoints to hammer out solutions. Too long, Olympia has failed to downsize government and fix problems like health care, class size and the demand for more college enrollment slots, he said.

Sims said that doesn't necessarily mean higher taxes - and certainly not before state government is recast from top to bottom, he said.

Sims said he will continue to hold down his dual roles of King County executive and chairman of Sound Transit, which is overseeing a multibillion-dollar rapid transit project in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties, including a controversial light rail program.

"I am running for governor because I believe our state needs leadership," Sims told his supporters. "All of us need to be at the table working toward a better Washington. We've got to get inspired again. We must see innovation, energy, bipartisan teamwork and above all, we must get results. I can do that."

Sims became the third major Democrat to enter the gubernatorial primary since two-term incumbent Gary Locke announced last week that he will step down at the end of his term. Locke cited family considerations.

Sims' rivals will include Gregoire, who plans to kick off her campaign with a five-city tour on Wednesday; and Phil Talmadge, a former state senator and state Supreme Court justice, who announced for the nomination long before Locke revealed his decision.

U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, a Bainbridge Island Democrat, also is expected to run.

Sims said he's convinced he can win the nomination. He said he brings hands-on experience in solving the problems of a big county. The Spokane native, who attended college in Ellensburg, said he would bring Eastern Washington more visibility in the campaign.