When the Mariners set out this year to secure $180 million in public funds from King County for Safeco Field upgrades, they added a key player to their lineup.
Seeking a portion of the county’s hotel-motel tax revenue as part of a 25-year lease extension at the ballpark, the team hired Joe Woods — King County Executive Dow Constantine’s former deputy chief of staff and longtime senior aide — to lobby Constantine and the County Council.
Many governments have “revolving door” laws that limit immediate lobbying by former legislators and other employees. Woods broke no such law.