East Link debate has taken up much of the City Council’s time in recent months, but that’s not the only issue on Bellevue’s radar, council candidates said at a debate Tuesday.
The forum, hosted by the Bellevue Downtown Association, featured seven candidates for Bellevue City Council. John Chelminiak and Claudia Balducci drew challengers in their races, Jennifer Robertson is running unopposed, and candidates John Stokes and Aaron Laing are fighting to replace Grant Degginger who decided not to seek another term.
As expected, light-rail came up several times during the debate, but other issues were on the minds of the candidates as well.
Transportation projects still ruled the day, as many of Bellevue’s missions – remaining a vital job center, maintaining strong neighborhoods – depend on avoiding snarling gridlock.
“If there’s one thing that will hold back our success it will be our inability to get transportation in order,” said Balducci, who has been on the council for the last eight years.
Balducci’s opponent Patti Mann, a paramedic and firefighter in Seattle, mentioned the extension of Northeast Fourth Street as a key means to free up traffic problems near downtown. She also pointed to the need for a downtown fire station as a crucial project for Bellevue.
Chelminiak also wanted to see the downtown station happen, but he was worried about staffing it. He referred to one of his most important priorities as human capital. He cited issues such as annexing 5,000 people into the city from Eastgate, and removing the municipal court from its temporary home in Surrey Downs as human capital needs.
Chelminiak’s opponent, Michelle Hilhorst, who works for AT&T, said road projects with grant money should be a top priority.
“That funding is obviously very critical to us,” she said.
The seven candidates all struck a friendly tone, and many of them extolled the virtues of collaboration. Candidates mentioned some previous tension, and public disputes between council members as something they’d like to do away with. Laing, a land use attorney, referred to himself as a collaborator. He shared frustration that he’s heard while campaigning, that Bellevue is not paying attention to its residents.
“What I hear over and over at the door, is people feel like they’re not being listened to by the city,” he said.
By setting aside some of the differences, candidates said, Bellevue can remain a strong force in the region.
“We’re a leader in this region, and we depend on this region,” said Parks and Community Services board member and former PTSA member Stokes. “You get people working together, and you can have more of an impact.”
