El Centro de la Raza Executive Director Named to Constantine's Transition Team

King County Executive-elect Dow Constantine today announced his transition team which includes the executive director of Beacon Hill based El Centro de la Raza..

Estella Ortega joins dozens of business, community, cultural and government leaders from across the county on this team which Constantine says will advise him over the next 19 days before taking the oath of office on November 24th. 

When asked whether these volunteers were simply picked to give him credibility Constantine said no.

“They’re here to give me real advice, real insight in order to be able to make the right decisions in this very short period we have.”

Ortega, who has more than 35 years of service at Beacon Hill based El Centro de la Raza, was named executive director of the Latino-based civil and human rights organization in June of 2009.

Remarking on the diversity in King County’s cultural communities Constantine said,

“They give us tremendous strength.  This county needs to be relying on all its people and having a government that reflects the diversity of this county.”

Constantine says the group will begin meeting Monday and he expects to begin announcing job appointments short after that.