King County to change logo to honor MLK

Twenty years after the King County Council renamed the county for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the council voted today to change the county logo from a crown to a likeness of the slain civil rights leader.

More than 200 supporters of the ordinance responded to the roll-call vote by jumping to their feet, cheering, beating Native American drums and singing, "We Shall Overcome."

"Symbols are very important. This is going to be a powerful one for us here in this county," Councilman Larry Gossett, D-Seattle, prime sponsor of the ordinance, declared after the vote.

Gossett said a new logo was the next logical step following the council's decision in 1986 to change the county namesake from former U.S. Vice President and slave owner William Rufus DeVane King to Nobel Peace Prize winner Martin Luther King Jr.

Council Chairman Larry Phillips, D-Seattle, said the county's current crown logo is an inappropriate "symbol of monarchy and royalty."

The ordinance passed 7-2, with Republicans Jane Hague of Bellevue and Kathy Lambert of Woodinville voting no because of concerns that the county could be liable to royalty claims from King's estate if it uses the logo in any commercial ventures.

The ordinance declares the county "does not intend to seek commercial profit" from use of the logo and acknowledges the King family's interest in collecting royalties from commercial uses of his image.

A new logo will be designed by County Executive Ron Sims and sent to the County Council for its approval.

County budget director Bob Cowan estimates it will cost the county $522,255 over five years to change the logo on cars, buildings, stationery and other places. In most cases, the new logo will be phased in as old supplies are used up, but law enforcement officers' uniforms and cars will be changed on a faster schedule so they are easily identifiable to the public.