Bellevue voters have good choices before them for city council. All of them appear thoughtful and articulate and would do well on the council.
However, that doesn’t mean we’re opting to just flip a coin in the three contested contests. Here are our choices for the races in Position 1, 3 and 5. In Position 7, Jennifer Robertson is running unopposed.
Position 1: John Stokes
John Stokes is a retired attorney who is steeped in public and community service in Bellevue. We think that is a plus for the council.
He’s a member of the Parks and Community Services Board – important given the city’s strong emphasis on parks.
He also has spent time in Bellevue School District groups and committees. While not directly related to city issues, they do show a desire to put in the time to benefit the public. He also has some fiscal credentials from his membership on the Bellevue School District’s fiscal advisory committee.
His opponent, Aaron Laing, also an attorney, has been active in Bellevue’s ongoing discussion over light rail. He deserves applause for his efforts given that this will be expensive for the city and those affected homeowners.
His priorities of preserving Bellevue’s high quality of life, restoring collegiality to the council and prioritizing the budget in tight economic times are on the mark. We’d like to see Laing become involved in city boards and commissions and keep his political drive alive.
Position 3: John Chelminiak
John Chelminiak brings experience and perspective in his re-election bid. Both are important for serving on the City Council of a city as large as Bellevue.
A key goal of Chelminiak is economic development, a top topic for Bellevue if it hopes to maintain its quality of life, much less grow in the future.
His prior experience in other governmental organizations gives him a regional perspective and contacts outside Bellevue’s borders.
His opponent, Michelle Hilhorst, brings a strong business background to the race from her position as Information Technology Operations Principal Program Manager at AT&T. That’s always a plus to bring to government.
Like Chelminiak, she puts an emphasis on economic development. Like others, she, too, wants more civility on the council.
As noted about Laing, we encourage Hilhorst to get more deeply involved with Bellevue government to round out her resume as a future candidate.
Position 5: Claudia Balducci
Claudia Balducci has been on the council since 2004 and has held a number of key positions in community and governmental organizations. One of the most important is her membership on the Sound Transit Board of Directors.
Love light rail or hate it, it’s important for Bellevue to have a seat at that table and Balducci has represented the city well.
Her opponent, Patti Mann, is a lifelong Bellevue resident and a firefighter/paramedic with the Seattle Fire Department. Like others, she is bright, articulate and emphasizes preserving the city’s quality of life.
She has a strong commitment to making sure that Sound Transit uses the existing Burlington Northern alignment for its light-rail line. While that could have been an attractive option, Sound Transit is putting the line elsewhere and the better council option appears to mitigating the impacts of light rail.
Position 7: Jennifer Robertson
Jennifer Robertson is running unopposed for good reason. She came on to the City Council in 2009, but before that had served on the city’s planning commission where she helped evaluate a major update of the Bel-Red Plan. That 900-acre project will help define Bellevue far into the future. Not only does she have strong city credentials, but also membership and connections on many diverse community groups.
– Craig Groshart, Bellevue Reporter
