Karol Brown has announced that she is running for a position on the Bellevue City Council.

An immigration attorney, small business owner and community activist, Brown is challenging incumbent Kevin Wallace for Position 4.

An Eastgate resident of more than 15 years, Brown has dedicated her career to serving families seeking a better life. Widowed when her son was only a year old, Brown understands firsthand the importance of keeping families together and she works to provide the stability they need to thrive.

Brown’s campaign will work to ensure that Bellevue is affordable and accessible for working families. She seeks to improve transportation options and keep neighborhoods safe for all residents.

“Although Bellevue has boomed economically, there are still many who feel like they are falling behind. Our city must serve those at the highest end of the job market as well as those seeking jobs that offer a family wage,” she said. “Just as a positive business climate is needed to create jobs and opportunities, we must put the needs of the people of Bellevue first. Individuals should be at the center of our decision-making.”

Brown has long been deeply engaged in Bellevue and regional politics. She chaired the 41st District Democrats for several years, coordinating educational programs and mobilizing voters for progressive causes and candidates that culminated in the election of Senator Lisa Wellman in the fall of 2016.

Brown was born and raised in Federal Way. After earning her bachelor’s degree in economics and international studies from the University of Washington, she graduated from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government with a master’s degree in public policy, and then went on to Yale Law School for her law degree. In 2012, Brown started World One Law Group, an immigration law practice in South Bellevue, where she helps businesses and families navigate complex immigration issues, and manages a growing team of immigration law professionals. Prior to starting her own firm, she clerked for Judge Thomas Zilly of the Western District Court of Washington, worked as an associate at a large local law firm and served as the policy and advocacy director at OneAmerica. She went on to join the adjunct faculty at the University of Washington School of Law, and worked in Microsoft’s Law and Corporate Affairs group.