Arms down, Jared Nieuwenhuis has earned a 3rd time period on the Bellevue Metropolis Council for his years of constructive dedication to the town and public service.
First elected in 2017, he beforehand had served on the town’s Parks and Neighborhood Companies Board. His work since becoming a member of the council exhibits dedication not solely to the town but in addition its rising function within the area, becoming for a metropolis that’s the state’s fifth-largest.
That broader view of the area little doubt explains his many endorsements from mayors of neighboring cities, the Eastside Enterprise Alliance and the town’s police and firefighter unions.
As a council member, he serves on the King County Progress Administration Planning Council, the Affiliation of Washington Cities’ Federal Legislative Priorities Committee and the Sound Cities Affiliation Public Points Committee. He’s the council liaison to the state Transportation Fee.
Twice, his fellow council members elected him deputy mayor — in 2020 and 2022.
Whereas his opponent is an individual of accomplishment, Pradnya Desh has had little direct involvement with the town of Bellevue, although she has lived there for 17 years, elevating three youngsters. The CEO of a tech agency, she obtained a gubernatorial appointment in 2022 to the Bellevue Faculty board of trustees and serves as chair.
Though she has voted in federal and state elections in even years, she has not voted in even-year elections for metropolis council or faculty board — not less than till this yr’s major.
She explains that as a U.S. State Division diplomat till 2010, her political focus has been past Bellevue. And it nonetheless appears to be. Within the voter’s pamphlet assertion, she writes of the threats going through native authorities: “That’s why we should exchange conservatives in native authorities with leaders prepared to step up and defend our values, and with larger-than-local scale expertise to take decisive actions.”
Such an announcement belies a curious lack of expertise of her opponent and his many contributions. His many endorsements vary from the conservative Bellevue Metropolis Councilmember Conrad Lee to the liberal Seattle Metropolis Councilmember Pleasure Hollingsworth.
Due to his actions and abiding service, Nieuwenhuis deserves re-election to the Bellevue Metropolis Council. HIs opponent doesn’t make the case.
