Employee News

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Lourdes Garcia brings her family’s passion for helping others to DPD

Lourdes Garcia slipped out of Cuba with her family when she was 7 years old, carrying little more than the clothes she could cram into a suitcase. Her parents left behind good jobs, furnishings, a large extended family.

It was hard rebuilding their lives once they landed in Seattle, said Lourdes, who today works for the county’s Department of Public Defense. But her family’s remarkable story also instilled in her the importance of helping others – in part, because of the role model of her father, a man who helped countless Cuban refugees over the years.

“I remember waking up and having 17 strangers at the breakfast table,” she said with a laugh.

“He always said you have to put yourself out there and help others who need help. My parents were very giving people,” she said. As a result, she added, “I feel I’m meant to be here. I understand the purpose of public defense.”

Little wonder, then, that she has made it virtually her second home. Lou, as she goes by, started working at what was then called the Northwest Defenders Association (NDA) 30 years ago, when it first opened its doors. She was one of seven founding employees – affectionately known as “The Magnificent Seven” after the famous 1960 Western.

The new firm set up shop in the Interuban Building in Pioneer Square and began representing indigent clients in Seattle Municipal Court. It was founded by Rufus McKee, a public defender at Associated Counsel for the Accused, another public defense agency, who wanted to promote greater diversity in public defense. NDA was the first minority-run public defense firm in Seattle.

Lou did virtually everything – short of representing clients – in those early days. She handled court runs and docketing, took care of all of the continuing legal education credits, paid the bills, and answered the phones. “I actually typed up the bylaws,” she recalled.

Over the years, NDA changed, eventually becoming a division within King County’s Department of Public Defense (DPD), and with it, Lou’s role changed too. Today, as a project/program manager at what is now called the Northwest Defenders Division, she oversees the division’s 10 legal assistant specialists, handles payments and supplemental credits, approves supply orders, on-boards and off-boards employees, oversees the case management system, and provides support to the staff. “I do whatever needs to be done to remove barriers,” she said.

The work is intense, she said, and the shift to becoming a part of King County means that some processes take longer. But she is pleased to be a part of the county and continues to feel she belongs in public defense, she said.

“What I enjoy most is seeing the dedication and passion of the employees,” she said. “We have a great staff that works well as a team. Everyone’s main concern is getting our clients served. It’s stressful, but I know we’re all here to make it better for those who are less fortunate.”

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Taking care of ourselves and one another in a difficult time

Dear colleague,

Whitney Abrams, Chief People Officer, King County Executive Office

Over the last several weeks in the national media, we have seen courageous women coming forward and reporting their experiences of sexual assault. Many of us have been impacted by these reports and the media that surrounds them.

I know that there are many different reactions to this news. I also want to acknowledge there are many cases of sexual assault and harassment that don’t get national attention, and many that don’t get reported out of fear and marginalization. This is especially true for members of the transgender community, Native women, and women of color.

If you feel like you want to talk to someone, our Making Life Easier service is available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-888-874-7290 (for King County employees and their families). If you are a sexual assault survivor, you can also contact the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE. The King County Sexual Assault Resource Center is also a good resource, and they have shared this article that may be helpful.

It is a fractious and difficult time for our nation and many of our communities. It is time for us to come together and ensure we are building a welcoming, safe and tolerant community in King County, and a workplace culture that is free of harassment, discrimination and retaliation.

I continue to feel inspired by you, our employees, and your impassioned service and empathy for others. We are steadfast in our Equity and Social Justice and Investing In YOU commitments here at King County. I look forward to working with you as we continue our progress together.

Thank you for everything that you do.

Sincerely,

Whitney Abrams,
Chief People Officer

Posted on October 9, 2018 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Leo Flor appointed Director of the Department of Community and Human Services

Dear fellow King County employee,

King County Executive Dow Constantine

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Leo Flor as our new Director of the Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS). His appointment is subject to Council confirmation.

Leo was the successful candidate from our nationwide recruitment for the new director. He currently serves as Director of DCHS’ Community Services Division, overseeing services that connect people to employment, support military veterans and their families, and ensure that older adults can live with dignity. Prior to that he managed the successful effort to renew the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services Levy. He is a West Point graduate who earned his law degree from the University of Washington, and served in the U.S. Army as an airborne ranger-qualified infantry officer.

Leo has the complete skill set to build on the progress we have made to help every child, youth, and adult in King County achieve their full potential. His success at building a strong, broad coalition for the Veterans, Seniors and Human Services levy demonstrated the leadership ability I wanted for this Cabinet position. With Leo as director, our employees and partners will continue to deliver measurable outcomes that improve the quality of life in King County.

Leo will succeed Director Adrienne Quinn, who recently accepted an offer to be a Distinguished Practitioner at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance after five years leading DCHS. I want to once again thank Adrienne for her leadership of DCHS and her work on behalf of the people of King County. Her contributions have helped countless people in our region get services and support that have enabled them to be healthy, happy, self-reliant and connected to our community.

I look forward to working with Leo and continuing the great work DCHS does to protect and support our most vulnerable residents.

Sincerely,

Dow Constantine
King County Executive

Posted on October 8, 2018 by William Blees

Featured Job: Administrative Coordinator (Special Duty)

Salary: 22.94 – 29.08 Hourly

Location: Seattle, WA

Job Type: Special Duty Assignment

Department: Department of Executive Services – Human Resources Division

Job Number: 2018EM08716

Closing: 10/16/2018 11:59 PM Pacific

This is a SPECIAL DUTY opportunity and only qualified internal candidates currently employed by King County government will be considered. This assignment is anticipated to last 6-12 months in duration. First consideration will be given to qualified candidates of Teamsters Local 117 Administrative.

Learn more about this position or all available jobs.

Posted on October 5, 2018 by William Blees

Training Spotlight: Intermediate to PeopleSoft Query and Advanced PeopleSoft Query

Intermediate to PeopleSoft Query, Oct. 9: It is open to experienced PeopleSoft Query users who have completed the Introduction to PeopleSoft Query training. Topics covered will include expressions and functions (operators, data fields, data conversion), complex criteria (use of Like, In List, condition types, grouping), the XLAT table (what is it, how it works), advanced prompts using prompt tables, simple unions and subqueries and case studies of interesting queries. Learn more and register on Eventbrite.

Advanced PeopleSoft Query, Oct. 17: It is open to experienced PeopleSoft Query users who have completed the Intermediate PeopleSoft Query training. Topics covered will include subqueries (Exist/Not Exist, In List/Not In List, other condition types), the Case statement (If-Then-Else logic), union queries and outer joins, case studies (the “movement” queries and more), and aggregates (create and Q/C aggregate queries). Learn more and register on Eventbrite.

Posted on October 5, 2018 by William Blees

Protect your pet against rabies

Crossposted from tails from RASKC

Public Health – Seattle & King County has tracked several cases of rabies in wild animals in our region this year. This potentially deadly virus is contagious, and in our state is usually carried by bats. While not every bat is infected with rabies, call Public Health at 206-296-4774 or seek help from a healthcare professional any time a person or pet has come in contact with a bat.

Don’t be left out! Update your personal information in PeopleSoft

Reasons why it’s important to review and update your personal information in PeopleSoft:

You will get important Open Enrollment and other employee benefits information mailed to you at the home address you provide.
Your emergency contact can be notified if something happens to you at work.
Someone at King County can reach you with information about building closures, safety directives, etc.
You can receive information at the email address you prefer

Here’s how:

Sign in to PeopleSoft. You can also access PeopleSoft from home: ess.kingcounty.gov.
Go to Personal Details
Make sure all items are up-to-date
Save any changes

If you need a new password, go to Forgot My Password. If you have any other login issues, call the IT Service Center: 206-263-4357.

Posted on October 4, 2018 by Lilia Cabello Drain

King County Archives Road Show, Oct. 10

King County Archives is opening our vault and sharing history with fellow county employees and the public! On Wednesday, October 10 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. archives staff will be in Chinook Building Room 115 to answer your archives-related questions. Interesting exhibits, stickers and our “Archives Photo Booth” where you can take fun selfies with historical images from our archives will also be on hand. Come see how the King County Archives is turning your records into history. View the flyer for more information here.

For more information contact County Archivist Carol Shenk at Carol.Shenk@kingcounty.gov.

Posted on October 3, 2018 by Lilia Cabello Drain

Judge Maureen McKee brings a wealth of experience

Crossposted from For the Defense

Pictured: Judge McKee enjoys a moment with a well-wisher after her swearing-in ceremony in the King County Courthouse in September.

Since she obtained her law degree from Cornell University 16 years, Maureen McKee has been in the trenches of public defense, working as a line attorney and supervisor in one of King County’s public defense agencies. She has represented teenagers and adults, people charged with felonies and misdemeanors, clients who stood to be hospitalized against their will or civilly committed as a sexually violent predator.

As the newest member of the King County Superior Court bench, Judge McKee has stepped into a profoundly different world. Assigned to a civil rotation, she’s now presiding over cases involving car accidents, insurance disputes, and, most recently, a tough tenant/landlord fight having to do with allegations of mold.

Leadership transitions at King County

Executive Constantine and his Senior Leadership Team have recently announced a number of leadership changes at King County departments:

Earlier today Executive Constantine announced his appointment of Anita Khandelwal as Director of the King County Department of Public Defense. Khandelwal’s appointment is subject to Council approval. Anita has served as the DPD Interim Director since July. Prior to that she served as the department’s Deputy Director of Law and Policy. She joined DPD in November 2015 and has been practicing law for more than a decade.

Yesterday Executive Constantine appointed John Taylor as the first director of the new Department of Local Services (DLS). His appointment is subject to Council approval. John will provide the leadership of this new department which will focus on deliver outstanding service to the quarter-million people of unincorporated King County. Taylor currently serves as an assistant division director at the King County Department of Natural Resources & Parks.

Brenda Bauer was appointed Deputy Chief Operating Officer, reporting to Chief Operating Officer Casey Sixkiller. Bauer, who was director of the Roads Services Division at the King County Department of Transportation, will immediately serve as interim director of the Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention to support DAJD’s leadership transition.

Willie Hayes, the director of the Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention, announced his December 1 retirement after 34 years of service. Hayes is an example of an employee who worked his way up through the ranks, and his leadership will be missed. A recruitment for the new director is currently underway.

Department of Transportation Director Harold Taniguchi announced last week that he will be leaving King County at the end of the year after 35 years of service. Taniguchi has been instrumental in leading the effort to create a Department of Local Services and helping to secure Council approval for the new department. Like Willie Hayes, Taniguchi worked his way through the ranks at King County, starting his career as an intern, and eventually rising to the position of department director.

Community and Human Services Director Adrienne Quinn will be leaving the County on November 30 for an appointment as Distinguished Practitioner at the University of Washington’s Evans School. She will help develop the next generation of local leaders in public policy after a very successful launch of the County’s Best Start for Kids program and developing new approaches to the delivery of effective human services.