Bellevue Planning Commissioner Michelle Hilhorst has announced her candidacy for Bellevue City Council Position 5, making Mayor Claudia Balducci’s seat the most competitive race of the season to date.

Hilhorst is vice chairwoman of the city’s planning commission and former head of the Newport Hills Community Club. She helped launch the Friends of Newcastle Library. Professionally, Hilhorst is a manager in IT Operations at AT&T.

“It has been an honor to serve Bellevue in a variety of capacities over the years and to serve Bellevue residents on the Planning Commission,” Hilhorst said in her statement of candidacy. “Working on the the city’s Comprehensive Plan has allowed me to address issues that touch every resident: Neighborhood safety, Transportation, Utilities, Environmental Services, Parks, Housing, and much more. I am well versed in what Bellevue citizens care about, and what they expect from the people who want to represent them on the City Council. I look forward to meeting as many of them as possible, face to face, in the coming months.”

Council Position 5 is currently held by Mayor Claudia Balducci, who is running for election to the King County Council in District 6 against incumbent Jane Hague. Hilhorst will go up against Bellevue Parks Chairwoman Sherry Grindeland and clinical pharmacist Vandana Slatter in the August primary.

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