After his Proposition 1 denouncement, Ron Sims is in a political free-fall

Metro King County Executive Ron Sims is politico non grata in powerful circles after he defected from the supporters of Proposition 1, the $18 billion roads-and-transit measure on the ballot next week. Sims helped craft the proposals, voted for them all along, didn't even threaten a veto as the measure cleared the King County Council, and then jumped ship. That infuriated the backers and many other politicians. In Vancouver, B.C., recently, at a gathering of Seattle-area business leaders getting religion about climate change, Sims, Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, and Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire were speakers. Both Nickels and, especially, Gregoire were well received. A year ago, Sims was so well regarded by this group that he was almost carried from the room on their shoulders. This time, the reception was frosty, and the questions were pointed. Sims left right after his talk, avoiding the schmoozefest. The tough question is why Sims, who could have gone public with his environmental and economic doubts about Proposition 1 in time to modify the package, waited so long. Politicians feel that if you don't try to change the outcome in the normal flow of legislation, you lose the right to enjoy heroics later, especially when a lot of other politicians have put their necks way out there to support the compromise package. There's also the suspicion that Sims may be opposing the measure so that, in the rubble of its defeat, King County will gain power by being the default agency to fix state highways. The county, steadily losing jurisdiction and power, could use a little new turf, the argument goes, and the RTID (Regional Transportation Improvement District) legislation allows the taxing authority to revert to individual counties if the ballot measure fails next week. (It also allows for a resubmission of the measure by the three-county RTID, probably scaled back to deflect taxpayer resistance.) Some go so far as to say Sims wouldn't get reelected Executive if he ran in 2009. That may be moot, as Sims has been raising his national profile, particularly on climate change issues, in a way that could put him in line for a cabinet post under President Hillary Clinton. Sims now supports Sen. Clinton, after an earlier infatuation with former Virginia Governor Mark Warner, who withdrew from the presidential race in 2006. One problem with Sims's career move is that Sen. Patty Murray, who would be consulted about such an appointment, is ticked at Sims for his last minute opposition to the ballot measure. Locally, it will be a long time before Sims is forgiven his apostasy, so he is not likely to be a key player in shaping a new transportation proposal should Proposition 1 be defeated. He'll become more of a political maverick, both as a lame duck and as an expelled member of the Establishment club. That could be very interesting. Local politics could use a few more creative mavericks.