Renton now has a seat at the table at the Sound Transit Board of Directors, for the first time.

City Councilmember Ed Prince was newly appointed to the board, King County Executive Dow Constantine announced Jan. 9. According to a press release, he will be representing the east King County subarea replacing retired Redmond Mayor John Marchione.

With Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), the new South Renton Transit Center and the study for possible light rail to Renton, there’s a lot of Sound Transit issues with a Renton edge. Prince said he is excited to bring Renton’s voice and look at the light rail study, BRT and other regional transit needs.

“I’m really excited,” Prince said. “Renton has never had a board member and it’s a huge thing for the city. I am looking forward to working with fellow board members.”

The board consists of 17 local elected official, 10 from King County, four from Pierce County and three from Snohomish County, appointed by each county’s executives.

Prince said that last year former Mayor Denis Law and city staff had put Prince’s name forward to Constantine as an applicant for the seat. Constantine then told Prince of his decision earlier this week.

“Councilmember Prince’s experience in Renton will help guide Sound Transit’s expansion and growth in the region for years to come,” Constantine stated in a press release.

Earlier this week, Prince was also reappointed to the Sound Cities Association (SCA), representing 38 King County cities. He has been appointed to that position three years in a row, and served as chair of it’s Public Issues Committee for the past two years.

The SCA Board of Directors has thirteen members, and provides leadership in regional issues including public safety, social welfare and the environment. SCA Executive Director Deanna Dawson stated in a press release that Prince’s vision for creating regional solutions helps the board address challenges across the cities it covers.

Prince also serves as executive director of the Washington State Commission on African American Affairs and has served on other regional boards and committees, including Association of Washington Cities, Regional Transit Committee, Growth Management Planning Council and the Regional Water Quality Committee. Prince was chair of the Renton Planning Commission and founding director of Renton Community Foundation’s “The Next Curve.”

Prince was sworn in after his reelection on Jan. 6, by King County Superior Court Judge LeRoy McCullough. The judge thanked Prince for his work before swearing him in.