{"id":2404096,"date":"2025-02-19T08:54:57","date_gmt":"2025-02-19T13:54:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sound-transit-ceo-candidate-details-remain-confidential-amid-calls-to-publicize-names-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-02-19T08:57:23","modified_gmt":"2025-02-19T13:57:23","slug":"sound-transit-ceo-candidate-details-remain-confidential-amid-calls-to-publicize-names-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/sound-transit-ceo-candidate-details-remain-confidential-amid-calls-to-publicize-names-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Sound Transit CEO candidate details remain confidential amid calls to publicize names &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsound-transit-ceo-candidate-details-remain-confidential-amid-calls-to-publicize-names-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2404096&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses the \u200bongoing search for a \u2062new CEO for Sound Transit, the public\u200c transit agency in the Seattle area, where the identities of the candidates are currently \u200dkept confidential.\u2064 Even though the list has been narrowed down to five candidates, the only\u2064 publicly disclosed \u200cname is Dow Constantine, King County \u200bExecutive and Sound Transit board member, who is actively pursuing the position. Advocacy group seattle Subway is urging Sound Transit to disclose all candidates, highlighting the importance of\u2064 transparency given the\u200d agency&#8217;s management\u2062 of billions of public dollars for the region&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/homeland-security-authorizes-tsa-to-enforce-joe-biden-mask-mandate\/\" title=\"Homeland Security Authorizes TSA to Enforce Joe Biden Mask Mandate\">public transportation system<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Concerns have been raised about the lack of public involvement in the hiring process, especially <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/san-francisco-hires-new-tourism-boss-who-says-hell-change-ongoing-narrative-as-city-battles-drug-use-homelessness\/\" title=\"San Francisco hires new tourism head to tackle drug use and homelessness.\">amidst ongoing challenges<\/a> in \u2063the transit system, such as costly delays in \u2063projects and maintainance issues. John Gallagher, a Sound Transit Media Relations Manager, justified the confidentiality by stating that\u2063 it encourages qualified candidates to\u2063 apply without fear of repercussions from their current employers.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, Seattle Subway \u2063points out a potential conflict of interest with Constantine&#8217;s candidacy, given \u200dhis history with the agency, including his role \u2063in successfully pushing for the Sound Transit 3 ballot measure. Thay are advocating for a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/north-carolina-city-sued-for-racial-discrimination-and-quota-system\/\" title=\"City in North Carolina sued for racial discrimination and implementing a quota system.\">merit-based selection process<\/a> and increased\u200c public input as the agency moves forward in choosing its \u200cnew leader, \u200bwith the final salary for the position possibly ranging \u200bfrom $450,000 to $650,000. The Sound Transit Board plans to vote on this matter next month.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Sound Transit CEO candidate details remain confidential amid calls to publicize names<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1997785\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square) &ndash; The Seattle area&rsquo;s public transit agency is <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">keeping candidate details confidential amid<\/a> its search for its next permanent CEO, but transit advocates are calling for a transparent and public-involved process.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Sound Transit narrowed down its list of candidates for the CEO position to five. However, details about most of the candidates have remained undisclosed from the public.<\/p>\n<p>The lone exception is King County Executive Dow Constantine, who also serves as a board member for Sound Transit. During the Sound Transit Executive Special Meeting, Constantine confirmed he is pursuing the CEO position as he is finishing up his fourth term as county lead and not running for reelection this year.<\/p>\n<p>The transportation advocacy group, Seattle Subway, is calling on Sound Transit to reveal the names of all CEO candidates as the agency is in possession of billions of dollars in public funds to connect the Puget Sound region.<\/p>\n<p>David Scott, political campaign liaison for Seattle Subway, noted that the agency has experienced issues, including costly delays to light rail expansion projects.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Riders deserve to know who will shape our region&rsquo;s transit future, especially given ongoing issues like disruptive maintenance closures, weak real-time bus data, and significant schedule delays,&rdquo; Scott said in a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattlesubway.org\/pressrelease20250217.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>press release<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Sound Transit Media Relations Manager John Gallagher explained to The Center Square that the agency provides applicants for the CEO position with anonymity to encourage qualified people who are currently employed to put their hat in the ring.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Many applicants likely wouldn&rsquo;t have stepped forward if doing so was conditioned on their current bosses, employees and stakeholders potentially learning of their interest to move on,&rdquo; Gallagher told The Center Square in an email. &ldquo;For these and other reasons, Washington&rsquo;s public meetings and public records laws very explicitly allow confidentiality in hiring processes.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Seattle Subway also notes Constantine&rsquo;s candidacy presents an inherent conflict of interest. Constantine has previously served as the board chair, most notably when the agency successfully had its Sound Transit 3 ballot measure approved by voters in 2015.<\/p>\n<p>That measure intends to connect the Puget Sound region&rsquo;s transit network, including 16 cities with its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/public-transit-security-guard-removed-from-duty-after-video-showed-savage-act-toward-sleeping-man\/\" title=\"... transit security guard fired for mistreating sleeping man in shocking video.\">light rail system<\/a>. The measure totals $54 billion, with construction anticipated to end in 2041.<\/p>\n<p>Seattle Subway is demanding Sound Transit provide opportunities for public comment and to commit to selecting a CEO based on merit.<\/p>\n<p>Goran Sparrman has served as the agency&rsquo;s interim CEO since January of last year. His contract included an annual base salary of $385,000, as&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_a18708e8-b0db-11ee-acbe-4bf2b2cf925c.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>previously reported<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;by The Center Square.<\/p>\n<p>Finalists for the CEO job opening could make even more. According to a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/recruiting.ultipro.com\/SOU1036SOUND\/JobBoard\/dcc5dbea-875e-4cd1-bfd2-8e046cecc54f\/OpportunityDetail?opportunityId=85d3ce2d-13db-4c74-a198-b13aa76442df\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>public post<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;for the position, the next CEO could make a salary ranging from $450,000 to $650,000.<\/p>\n<p>The Sound Transit Board is hoping to consider a motion next month to hire a new CEO.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1997785\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1997785\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sound Transit keeps CEO candidates confidential, facing calls for transparency<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2404097,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/seattle-1024x598.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50651,50652,50653,43775,32076],"class_list":["post-2404096","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-ceo-candidate","tag-confidentiality","tag-public-inquiry","tag-sound-transit","tag-washington-examiner"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/seattle-1024x598.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404096","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2404096"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404096\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2404100,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2404096\/revisions\/2404100"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2404097"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2404096"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2404096"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2404096"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}