Former King County Executive Ron Sims and Seattle land use attorney Ryan Durkan were appointed Wednesday by Gov. Chris Gregoire to the Washington State University Board of Regents.

The board governs the state’s second-largest research university.

Sims served as both the county executive and on the county council. Most recently he was deputy secretary of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. He ran for statewide office twice, losing the U.S. Senate general election race in 1994 and the Democratic primary for governor in 2004. Sims is from Spokane and attended Central Washington University.

Durkan is an attorney with HCMP Law Offices and specializes in real estate, land use and environmental law. She graduated from Washington State University in 1978 and and the University of Washington School of Law in 1981. She served on the Washington State University Foundation board of trustees and was chairwoman of the Land Use Study Commission in 1996 that made recommendations for restructuring the state’s Growth Management Act.

She is the daughter of two-time gubernatorial candidate and former state Sen. Martin Durkan, who died in 2005, and the sister of Jenny Durkan, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington.

Sims and Durkan replace current regents Elizabeth Cowles and Rafael Stone.

Here’s the press release from the governor’s office…

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced she has appointed Ron Sims and attorney Ryan Durkan to the Washington State University board of regents.

“The role of the board of regents is more important now than ever before as the state continues to recover from the national recession,” Gregoire said. “Members must be dedicated to improving our higher education system – and bring innovation and new ideas to the table. I’m confident both Ron and Ryan will serve the university and students well.”

“We greatly appreciate the governor’s careful consideration in adding new members to our board of regents,” said WSU President, Elson Floyd. “A strong board featuring diverse viewpoints is a great asset in our university’s decision-making process, and I am certain that Ron and Ryan will prove to be excellent additions.”

The board of regents is the university’s governing body whose broad responsibilities are to supervise, coordinate, manage and regulate the WSU system, as provided by state statute.

Sims served as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from Feb. 2009 until June 2011. As the second most senior official at HUD, Sims managed its day-to-day operations, a nearly $40 billion annual operating budget and the agency’s 8,500 employees. Prior to joining HUD, Sims served as King County Executive, beginning in 1996.

“Ron was among the first elected officials to understand the dynamic changes urban development, clean energy and sustainability would bring to our state and its economy,” Gregoire said. “His expertise in these and many other areas will be an asset as WSU works to give its students the tools to succeed in an ever-changing economy.”

“I am honored to be appointed by Governor Gregoire to the Board of Regents of Washington State University,” Sims said. “I look forward to making a contribution to the amazing work that Washington State University is already doing to prepare graduates for the 21st century economy.”

Durkan is an attorney with HCMP Law Offices and specializes in real estate, land use and environmental law. She graduated from Washington State University in 1978 and served on the Washington State University Foundation board of trustees.

“Ryan has proven she’s passionate about the importance of education – serving on the board of trustees for an elementary school, a middle school and a high school,” Gregoire said. “Her experience improving our education system, combined with her legal background and her commitment to community, make her a natural fit.”

“This is a time of great excitement for Washington State University,” Durkan said. “While there are also significant challenges ahead, I am optimistic about the future of WSU. It will be a great privilege to work with Dr. Floyd and the Board of Regents in the service of my alma mater. Washington State is such a special place, because it creates a unique sense of community and pride. I will be honored to serve the Cougar nation.”