Asian Americans prominent on Constantine’s senior personal staff
King County Executive Dow Constantine with his senior personal staff. L-R: Administrative Assistant Lee Anne Hughes, Director of Communications Frank Abe, Exec. Constantine, Director of Government and Labor Relations Sung Yang.
By Staff
Northwest Asian Weekly
Dow Constantine was sworn in as King County Executive on Nov. 24. The event took place in Daniels Recital Hall in Seattle.
More than 500 people were present as U.S. District Court Judge Richard A. Jones swore in Constantine.
Perhaps Constantine’s first step in reforming the county government is in who he chooses to be on his staff.
Thus far, there are a few notable Asian Americans as his senior personal staff: Director of Communications Frank Abe, and Director of Government and Labor Relations Sung Yang. His administrative assistant is Lee Anne Hughes
Frank Abe
Abe served for seven years as communications director for the Metropolitan King County Council and executive producer of King County TV. He was communications director for former County Executive Gary Locke and a media specialist in the King County Department of Transportation.
For 14 years, Abe covered local government as a news reporter for KIRO Newsradio 710. He was a founding member of the Seattle chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association.
Dow Constantine and his Asian supports, from left: Sharon Maeda, Susan Liu, Dow Constantine, Velma Veloria, and a unidentified supporter (Photo by Assunta Ng/NWAW)
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Sung Yang
Yang most recently served as chief of staff for Seattle City Light, where he oversaw government relations, communications policy, and coordination of legal affairs. His 12 years of experience in state and local government includes serving as council relations director for Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, legislative aide for Seattle City Councilmember Martha Choe, and deputy director for the Washington State Department of Commerce, Trade, and Economic Development.
Lee Anne Hughes
Before becoming Constantine’s assistant, Hughes was the executive assistant to former interim King County Executive Kurt Triplett. Hughes has worked for the executive office since 2005 and has a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management and Marketing from Portland State University. ♦
Information from: www.kingcounty.gov/exec/constantine/staff.aspx.