The Seattle hotel tax is not new, is not part of the general fund, is intended for tourism and trade (center) infrastructure, and has a bill from Ed Murray pointing it toward building the second coming of the convention center at 766 million dollars, part of that to buy "airspace" location owned by King County, worth tens of millions of dollars. If you want short term cash for King County, well, there it is (both Hunter and Murray had that proposal pitched to them at the task force meeting in December).
I hate the idea as much as the next person, but, there it is.

By "Larry Phillips, then chair of the county council" do you mean "Larry Phillips, not then the chair of the county council"?

In these dire economic times, Sims' imminent departure is leaving a gaping leadership hole in King County.

Meanwhile, Larry Phillips is "WAITING for marching orders before heading to Olympia" to lobby on behalf of the county's services and programs. Straight from the horse’s mouth, Larry lacks the leadership King County needs.

Phillips has spent nearly two decades “waiting” on King County’s council... waiting to come in behind Sims and fill the Executive's seat. We CAN do better.

In these times, we must do better.