Executive Girmay Zahilay Details Vision for Regional Reform, Accountability, and Good Governance
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay recently shared a vision for regional reform and accountability during an appearance on The Big O Show, following his State of the County Address on June 10th, 2026. He outlined policies on gun violence prevention, department audits, and participatory budgeting in the county.
The Executive addressed the persistent crisis of gun violence, advocating for federal coordination and resources similar to the response seen during COVID-19.
"For some communities, it is a pandemic," Zahilay said, noting that some neighborhoods are being "terrorized" by the issue. He highlighted his office’s investment of at least $5 million to the King County Office of Gun Violence Prevention (ROGVP).
The Executive said he plans to strategically move the ROGVP's coordination functions closer to his office to ensure a unified approach across departments like transit, parks, and public health. Acknowledging the youth lost to gun violence, he uplifted the county’s YouthWorks program that offers paid jobs and economic opportunities for kids.
"Gun violence prevention is crisis care centers. Gun violence prevention is affordable and safe housing. Gun violence prevention is the community center that we're launching,” he said.
Zahilay emphasized the need for a "regional reset" of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA). Following audits that revealed financial mismanagement and accounting issues, he said his administration is increasing oversight by embedding financial experts to control the agency's budget.
"I have to show people that King County, your regional government, is taking care of your tax dollars,” he said.
Zahilay stated that the current structure is insufficient to deliver the "regional response system that we deserve," and emphasized that any long-term solution requires the buy-in of all 39 cities, service providers, and labor unions.
The Executive leaned heavily into a "good governance" philosophy, arguing that maintaining public trust through fiscal responsibility is essential for achieving progressive goals. He has introduced "base budgeting" for the upcoming cycle, a process where every department budget is built from the ground up rather than automatically rolling over previous spending.
Regarding recent audits of community grants, Zahilay acknowledged the tradeoffs between lowering barriers for small organizations and ensuring strict oversight. He clarified that "mismanagement is not always fraud" and announced that the county is now providing technical support and classes to help smaller grantees meet reporting standards.
The conversation concluded with a focus on community empowerment through participatory budgeting in areas like Skyway, Washington. The program in Skyway allows residents to vote directly on how $10 million is spent, funding local projects such as a youth barber school and food security initiatives.
Zahilay reiterated that his fundamental goal is to trust the communities he governs.
"Nobody can tell you more about the needs in a community than the community itself,” he said. "The future is not something that happens to us. It's something that we define together.”
Watch The Executive’s full interview on The Big O Show here.
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