King County Executive candidate Fred Jarrett received two high-profile endorsements Tuesday, June 2 with Charles Royer and Martha Choe backing his candidacy.

Royer served three terms as Seattle mayor from 1978-1990, and later became director of The Institute of Politics at Harvard University. Choe started her business career in banking, then was elected to the Seattle City Council, and later served as director of the Washington state Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development. She is currently the chief administrative officer for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Jarrett represents the 41st Legislative District, which includes part of Bellevue, in the Washington state Senate. He has been a project manager at Boeing for 35 years, and has served as mayor of Mercer Island, president of the Mercer Island School Board, as a state representative from the 41st District, and served on numerous regional policymaking boards.

“I am honored that two of the most respected figures in this region have backed my candidacy,” Jarrett said. “The broad support we’re seeing, both from Seattle and from suburban King County, is a clear signal to me that people understand the need for and want change in how King County is governed.”