The field for prospective appointment as King County Executive was narrowed to four as members of the Metropolitan King County Council submitted four names for evaluation by a Blue-Ribbon Committee.

“We’ve generated a strong field of candidates for interim executive from across the county, each with significant support from individual council members,” said Council Chair Dow Constantine. “The Blue-Ribbon Committee will provide an expedited but thorough review of these candidates to aid the council in making its final choice.”

The four finalists are Steve Hammond, Louise Miller, Charles Royer and Kurt Triplett.

“I think our nominating process is a strong indication of our outreach to qualified candidates in King County,” said Council Vice Chair Jane Hague, of Bellevue.

Under legislation adopted April 6, each candidate for Executive must be nominated by at least three councilmembers in order to be forwarded to the Blue-Ribbon Committee. Final authority to make the appointment rests with the County Council.

Both Hammond and Miller are former members of the King County Council. Royer is a former mayor of Seattle. Triplett is King County Executive Chief of Staff.

Executive Ron Sims on February 2 announced he had been nominated to serve as Deputy Secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Obama Administration. Upon his confirmation and resignation from office, the King County Council under the County Charter will appoint an executive to serve until the next general election in November.