County Executive Ron Sims has been nominated to a federal position. The U.S. Senate has not yet announced the timing for confirmation hearings.

Here is the process when that happens and if Sims is confirmed to be Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Sims has designated his chief of staff, Kurt Triplett, to serve as Interim County Executive to perform all necessary duties and continue normal office operations should he vacate office after confirmation. Should that occur, the King County Council will meet to appoint a County Executive to serve until the next general election this November.

Voters last November adopted King County Charter Amendment 8 to make the offices of Executive, Council and Assessor nonpartisan. These offices became nonpartisan on Dec. 5, 2008, 10 days after certification of the election.

This change to the charter removes the role played in years past by the political parties, which would submit names of potential candidates to the County Council for consideration.

Under the amended charter the only requirement for an appointee is the same as that for any countywide office: that the candidate be at least 21 years of age, a U.S. citizen, and a resident and registered voter in King County.