Ron Sims to leave Obama administration, return to Seattle

Citing a weariness with living so far from his family, former King County Executive Ron Sims is quitting his high-level post in the Obama administration and will return to Seattle this summer.

Sims, who was appointed two years ago as deputy secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), announced his departure Tuesday in a message to his staff, saying he was "retiring from public service," and would leave HUD at the end of July.

Though the news came a day after Gov. Chris Gregoire said she won't seek a third term, Sims quickly dismissed any speculation he will run for governor in an interview Tuesday.

Sims called U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, a fellow Democrat, "the right candidate" and said he would volunteer for Inslee's expected gubernatorial campaign.

However, Sims did not rule out future bids for local office, such as the 2013 Seattle mayor's race. "I have no idea what I am going to do in 2013," he said.

Sims said his decision to leave HUD was entirely personal, saying he'd grown unhappy living thousands of miles away from his wife, Cayan Topacio, and other family.

Returning home each night to a lonely D.C.-area apartment, Sims said he'd "talked to those walls on more than one occasion" and gone on many solitary bike rides and walks.

Lately, Sims said, "I felt like I was a visitor," just "popping in and out" of his family's lives. Two of his sons live in the Seattle area, he said. "I want my family life back," he said.

Sims, 62, began his stint as HUD's No. 2 official in May 2009. In that role, he's been responsible for managing the department's daily operations, including a $40 billion budget and 8,500 employees.

During his tenure, Sims said he was proud of working to hire regional HUD administrators for their management qualifications instead of political connections. He also promoted new grants for sustainable housing.

Sims served three terms as King County executive after winning appointment to the job in 1996 to succeed Gary Locke, who was elected governor that year. Sims had served on the Metropolitan King County Council since 1985.

He ran unsuccessfully for statewide office twice — running for governor in 2004 and U.S. Senate in 1994.

While Sims' statewide campaigns may have flopped, he'd be a formidable contender if he ran for Seattle mayor in two years.

Mayor Mike McGinn has suffered from dismal poll numbers and several potential challengers are being talked about, including City Councilman Tim Burgess and state Sen. Ed Murray.

In the short term, after he returns to Seattle, Sims said he'll spend time at home, working in the garden, and starting on a backlog of chores for his wife.

"Her list of to-dos is very very long," Sims said. "I will attack them with a smile on my face and enthusiasm in my being."

Jim Brunner: 206-515-5628 or jbrunner@seattletimes.com