In the highest-profile endorsement yet in the King County executive race, former Seattle Mayor Charles Royer today announced his support for state Sen. Fred Jarrett.

"I've known Fred for a long long time. I respect his intelligence and his experience very much. I just think he is most likely, if he can get elected, to succeed in repairing the relationship with the suburban cities, with Olympia, with people in the rural areas," Royer said.

Royer said he doesn't think either of the Metropolitan King County Council members running for executive -- Dow Constantine and Larry Phillips -- is likely to be a change agent.

"As much as I liked these two guys from the County Council," Royer said, "the people who created the status quo over there, who created the situation as it is, are the least likely people to try to change it."

Royer, who was elected Seattle mayor three times and served 11 years from the late 1970s to the late 1980s, said he had "a unique opportunity to see behind the curtain of King County government" when he was a candidate to replace former County Executive Ron Sims until after the November election.

The County Council instead chose Sims' former chief of staff, Kurt Triplett, even though 10 members of an advisory panel favored Royer and five supported Triplett. Royer nor Triplett both disavowed any interest in running for a four-year term as county executive.

Jarrett and state Rep. Ross Hunter belatedly began fundraising for the executive election after the Legislature adjourned in late April. Also running for the seat is former KIRO-TV news anchor Susan Hutchison.

Phillips, the first candidate to enter the race, and Constantine, have listed dozens of endorsers on their campaign Web sites.