Michael Marchand will run for Bellevue City Council this fall. He will be seeking Position 6 on November’s ballot.

“My family and I feel fortunate to live here in Bellevue. There is a real sense of opportunity,” Marchand said. “And I feel strongly that moving Bellevue forward requires people in government that embody the future of our city, want to be more involved, and are committed to making it happen.”

Marchand, 43, is currently director of communications at Microsoft in the recently formed Health Solutions Group. He is also in his sixth year as a gubernatorial appointee to the Boundary Review Board for King County. This body oversees annexations by metropolitan areas and incorporations of new cities, ensuring they are compliant with state, regional and local growth planning policies and guidelines.

“We are at a critical juncture in Bellevue’s history that requires a fresh prospective on how we grow as a city and region,” Marchand said. “We need to be thinking strategically about how we invest in important projects that will improve the region’s transportation, enhance neighborhoods and parks, and support our businesses, schools and cultural activities. This includes reassessing how we currently budget for these needs.”

Prior to joining Microsoft, Marchand served as public affairs director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and was a chief spokesperson on Medicare, Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance issues. He also acted as deputy director of communications for Gov. Gary Locke, handling important policy and legislative issues including transportation, the environment, technology and health.

Marchand has lived in Bellevue for the past seven years and now resides in the Enatai neighborhood with his wife and their three children. He earned his B.A. in government from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., and is also a trained mediator.