Jan Drago's a fine pick for King County Council caretaker seat

ONE of the most impressive things about the Metropolitan King County Council's selection of Jan Drago to fill the council's open seat is that a decision was made.

Considering that the officially nonpartisan council sometimes votes in a tie between four longtime Democrats and four longtime Republicans, debate could have dragged on interminably.

Notably, Councilmember Larry Phillips, a Democrat, joined four Republicans in approving the practical, business-oriented Drago to serve the next 11 months. She is a fine pick.

Drago, newly retired from the Seattle City Council, is a Democrat, but most Democrats on the council supported state Sen. Joe McDermott, who plans to run for the seat. A year of incumbency would have bolstered his chances at the ballot box.

Drago says she won't run next year and will be a caretaker.

Now that the council has settled on filling the vacancy created by Dow Constantine's ascension to the executive office, the council can proceed with regular business, including tapping Bob Ferguson as council chairman. He is an excellent choice.

In the months ahead, other candidates more politically moderate than McDermott are encouraged to run for the council seat. Voters said last year they wanted the council to be nonpartisan, though that is proving easier said than done.

A couple of possibilities include Normandy Park Mayor Shawn McEvoy and former Burien Mayor Arun Jhaveri — and others.

McDermott is not unqualified for the post. He has run several times for the Legislature so voters in the West Seattle-Vashon Island County Council district know him and like him. He is described as gentle and consensus-oriented — traits that would not hurt the council's politics on steroids.

But voters should treat the Constantine seat for what it is: one open to all comers, even a few moderates.