Stokes Will Run For Third Term On Bellevue Council

From The City of Bellevue: Today Bellevue City Councilmember John Stokes announced he will run for re-election to the Bellevue City Council. Stokes, twice elected to the council in 2011 and 2015, was selected by his peers to serve as Bellevue’s Mayor from 2016 through 2017.

“Over the past seven years it has been my honor to serve the residents of Bellevue on the City Council,” said Stokes. “I remain enthusiastically committed to the cultural vibrancy of a city that has so successfully blended the old with the new. That’s why I’m running for re-election—to continue working for Bellevue and championing the priorities that matter here on the Eastside.”

As the region has rapidly changed over the last decade, Stokes has been a strong leader, guiding Bellevue through new plans and projects with focus and stability. Stokes led the passage of the Downtown Livability Initiative, better preparing Bellevue to respond to growth and build density without sacrificing the character of its neighborhoods.

With Bellevue facing a homelessness crisis and soaring cost of living expenses, Stokes is a leading voice for affordability. He has pushed Bellevue to offer additional services to support those experiencing homelessness and housing instability. As the Council’s liaison to the City Planning Commission, Stokes has also supported taking proactive measures to address growth.

“We can’t risk losing the communities and community members that make Bellevue special—no one should be pushed out because of rising housing costs. I led the development of Bellevue’s first-ever affordable housing plan because I believe that our city’s strength comes from its diversity, and as long as I’m in office I won’t let that change,” said Stokes.

Stokes is a key advocate for multi-modal transportation, aiming to build a Bellevue connected by transit options. He is a member of the Eastside Transportation Partnership Steering Committee and served on the Sound Transit Eastlink Collaborative Design Leadership Team. Stokes is a strong promoter of the development of Bellevue’s Grand Connection and the Eastside Rail Corridor.

“Light Rail is already bringing exciting business opportunities to our city, and I’m excited to continue working to ensure a smooth rollout to the Eastside,” said Stokes. “I led the charge on Bellevue’s transportation levy for better sidewalks, safer intersections and other important investments. If we’re going to reduce Bellevue’s traffic congestion, it’s clear we need more safe and reliable transit options.”

Stokes is the Chair of the King Conservation District Advisory Committee, Chair of the Cascade Water Alliance Board of Directors and a member of a number of other resource management and environmental commissions. Stokes will continue protecting the region’s clean drinking water and preventing development in the Cedar River Watershed in his third term.

State Representative and former Bellevue School Board President My-Linh Thai said, “John has a long and proven track record advocating for opportunity and great schools for every Bellevue student as co-founder of Eastside Pathways, a Bellevue Schools Foundation Trustee, and longtime supporter of Kids Quest and the Boys & Girls Club. We need his continued leadership working to ensure Bellevue Schools remain among the best in the nation.” Stokes is also a champion of arts and culture for the wellbeing of Bellevue’s residents and the positive effect they have on economic development.

Stokes’ re-election effort is overwhelming endorsed by Eastside Leaders. In addition to Bellevue Deputy Mayor Lynne Robinson and Councilmember Janice Zahn, he is endorsed by the Eastside’s congressional delegation, Representatives Suzan DelBene, Kim Schrier, and Adam Smith. They are joined by Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib, Attorney General Bob Ferguson, State Senators Lisa Wellman and Patty Kuderer, and State Representatives Tana Senn, My-Linh Thai, Vandana Slatter, and Amy Walen. He also boasts the support of County Executive Dow Constantine and County Councilmembers Claudia Balducci, Rod Dembowski, Kathy Lambert, and Pete von Reichbauer. Stokes is also endorsed by numerous regional mayors and councilmembers.

“John brings a great deal of positive energy and creativity to the council and has pushed us to think and dream big. John is someone who works well across philosophical and political lines to get good things done,” said King County Councilmember and former Bellevue Mayor Claudia Balducci.

Learn more, including a full list of endorsements, at JohnStokes.org.

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