SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle attorney Rod Dembowski has been appointed to fill a vacancy on the King County Council left by Bob Ferguson, who was elected state attorney general last fall.

The 41-year-old will represent a district that covers Shoreline, Woodinville and northeast Seattle, and he’ll have to defend the seat in the general election this November. The council picked him over state Rep. Cindy Ryu and Shoreline City Councilmember Will Hall.

Dembowski has worked with the Foster Pepper law firm, and he advised Ferguson in his campaign for attorney general. He had the endorsement of every Democratic organization in the district.

He says he grew up in a poor, single-parent home in Renton, but thanks to a good public education was able to attend Georgetown University and the University of Washington Law School. He said his priorities include making sure others have similar opportunities.