The Aug. 16 primary and special election is quickly approaching. Remember to have your ballots stamped and postmarked, or dropped in a ballot drop box on or before Tuesday, Aug. 16.

The closest local ballot drop box location is the Ballard Branch Library at 57th Street and 22nd Avenue NW. Ballots taken to drop boxes must be deposited by 8 p.m. on Aug. 16. If that’s not convenient for you, see this map for a complete list of King County drop box locations.

For candidate statements, see the King County Elections Local Voters’ Pamphlet. And if you can’t make your mind up from reading those, let someone else help. Here are some sources for candidate ratings and endorsements:

• Municipal League of King County
• Seattle Times
• The Stranger
• 36th District Democrats
• 46th District Democrats

Know of any other endorsement sources published online? Please share them in comments, or send us a link at tips@phinneywood.com.

King County’s Aging and Disability Services (ADS) wants community input for its new Area Plan on Aging, which will guide its work from 2012-2015.

ADS is a division of the Seattle Human Services Department, and works with King County and United Way to improve the health and quality of life for seniors and adults with disabilities, connect them with resources, and provide support to caregivers.

ADS wants residents of any age to complete an online questionnaire.

We especially encourage people who are age 60 or older, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers to respond.

Responses from this questionnaire will inform development of strategies to promote quality of life, independence and choice for older people and adults with disabilities, which will be carried out over the next four years.

Everybody is aging, so everybody should care.

For more information about the Area Plan on Aging, contact ADS planner Karen Winston at 206-684-0706.

King County Executive Ron Sims announced moments ago that he is resigning to take a position with the Obama administration. Sims will become deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The appointment requires Senate confirmation.

That means the race for King County Executive is wide open, with Democratic County Councilman Larry Phillips, who represents our area, already throwing his hat into the ring. Philips lives in Magnolia and is a strong advocate for Sound Transit and light rail.

Last November voters passed a county charter amendment that would change the Executive’s position from partisan to non-partisan.

Update 11:30 a.m.: The King County Council will now choose an interim replacement to serve until voters elect a new Executive in November. Here are excerpts from a statement from Council Chair Dow Constantine:

“I will sit down immediately with my colleagues to create a non-partisan process to choose an interim replacement to serve the remainder of Executive Sims’ term.

“An ideal appointee would possess the necessary policy experience, political skills, and management ability to help guide King County through the next several months. We need an appointed executive who can devote his or her full attention and talents to the unprecedented financial challenges facing King County.