King County Councilmember Jane Hague is getting competition for her seventh bid on the council in the form of Bellevue Mayor Claudia Balducci, who announced her candidacy Thursday.

“I feel like it’s time for some new leadership at the regional level,” said Balducci, who is currently serving her second year as mayor. “I feel like I bring a lot of experience.”

Balducci said she wants to work within the county council to support several issues important to her, such as public transportation and public safety; she is the former director of the King County Adult and Juvenile Detention.

“It’s an important value to residents who live here, but you have to do so in a way that is fair and efficient,” Balducci said, adding she resigned earlier this month as strategy section manager for criminal justice in the King County Office of Performance, Strategy and Budget to focus on the election. “Being mayor and holding down a full-time job just wouldn’t leave me enough time to do the things I need to do.”

Balducci’s announcement came a week after Hague, who has been on the county council for 20 years, declared her bid for reelection.

“I just feel there’s a lot more work to do, especially with the road and transit issues,” said Hague, who will now be defending her District 6 seat.

District 6 includes Bellevue, Medina, Clyde Hill, Hunts Point, Beaux Arts, Yarrow Point, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Redmond and Woodinville.

The county councilwoman said she wants to continue focusing on strengthening economic development on the Eastside, improving government efficiency with a lean budget and beautification projects. In Bellevue, Hague said she wants to find more support for the Tateuchi Center, a performing arts center project lacking more than $130 million in funding to be completed.

“I think we’ve got an opportunity with Tateuchi to not only do great performances but also provide another economic engine on the Eastside,” she said.

Balducci said she has assembled a campaign team and raised $15,000 in the first few days since quietly announcing her bid. She reports endorsements from U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, 48th District Sen. Cyrus Habib and Rep. Ross Hunter and 41st District Rep. Tana Senn. Bellevue councilmembers Lynne Robinson and John Stokes are also endorsing Balducci, as is former Mayor Connie Marshall.