Forum planned on Bellevue City Council races

The Bellevue Downtown Association will hold a forum October 6 featuring the nine candidates running for seats on the Bellevue City Council.

The event is free and will be from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue – Evergreen Ballroom. Because seating is limited, those attending are asked to register online by Oct. 3 at http://bellevuedowntown.org/events/councilforum.html.

People also can suggest suggested topics for the candidates.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. An audience question/answer period will be held near the end of the program.

Moderators of the forum will be Craig Groshart, Editor, Bellevue Reporter and Kate Riley, Associate Editorial Page Editor, The Seattle Times

Candidates for Bellevue City Council on the November ballot are (* indicates incumbent):

Council Position No. 2

Conrad Lee*

Vicki Orrico

Council Position No. 4

Patsy Bonincontri*

Kevin R. Wallace

Council Position No. 6

Don Davidson*

Michael Marchand

Council Position No. 7 (unexpired 2-year term)

Mike Creighton

Betina Finley

Jennifer Robertson

The Bellevue City Council has seven councilmembers, elected at large, who serve staggered four-year terms. Councilmembers Lee and Davidson are seeking re-election.

Councilmember Bonincontri was appointed to fill the Position 4 vacancy when Connie Marshall resigned in 2008. Marshall won her re-election bid in November 2005.

Councilmember Creighton was recently appointed to Phil Noble’s vacant seat. He will fill Position 7 until a winner is decided in the upcoming election. Noble was re-elected in November 2007 and served until his untimely passing in June 2009.

The terms of four councilmembers will expire in December 2011, currently served by Mayor Grant Degginger, Deputy Mayor Claudia Balducci, Councilmember John Chelminiak and the councilmember elected this November to Position 7.

More information about the forum is available from Patrick Bannon at 425-453-3113 or patrick@bellevuedowntown.org.