The King County Council today unanimously approved the appointment of former Seattle City Council President Jan Drago to fill the vacancy created in County Council District 8 when Dow Constantine was sworn in as County Executive.

“I am honored to be selected to serve the people of District 8,” Drago said shortly after her swearing-in by Superior Court Presiding Judge Bruce Hilyer. “I look forward to working with the Council and the communities and neighborhoods that make up the district on the challenges that we face this year.”

Drago will hold the seat until the November general election when a new members is chosen by a vote.

Drago served on the Seattle City Council from 1994 through 2009, having served as council president for four years and as chair of the council’s Budget Committee from 1999-2003. Drago, a graduate of Rutgers University, was a small business owner and school teacher prior to joining the Seattle City Council.

She was selected out of the 11 applicants who applied to replace Constantine. All of the applicants were interviewed by a 12-member advisory committee of community leaders and elected officials who live or work in Council District 8. The advisory committee sent the Council Drago as well as the names of three other candidates: Rep. Zack Hudgins,from the 11th District, Sen. Joe McDermott, from the 34th District and Rep. Sharon Nelson, from the 34th District.