Bellevue is now a multi-cultural and international city. Forty percent of its population is ethnic-minority; one-third is foreign-born; 27.5 percent Asian. It has an Asian American on its City Council for over 18 years. It has had plenty of opportunities for its Council members to choose to make this happen. The United States is a country of immigrants. An African American has been elected our President. Our State of Washington elected a Chinese American to be its governor. International trade is our state’s top priority.
It’s time for Bellevue to have an ethnic-minority as its mayor. We should be proud and happy to reflect our diversity and strength and put money where our mouth is. We should step up to show the rest of the country and the world that we value our multiculturalism and diversity just like San Francisco and other world-class cities. It’s time to have a mayor who truly represents our community and population.
Bellevue has the chance right now in our Deputy Mayor Conrad Lee. We urge our Bellevue City Council members to step up and not bury their heads in the sand and squander another opportunity and easy win for Bellevue. Let’s elect an ethnic-minority mayor. Let’s elect Conrad Lee Mayor to represent Bellevue in 2012.
If you think this is the right thing to do, please send your pledge to [email protected]. I truly believe that your support will change our Asian image in the US.
Editorial note:
Why is the Bellevue City Council voting for its Mayor?
Bellevue has a Council-Manager form of government with seven, non-partisan council members elected at large for staggered four-year terms. The City Council selects a Mayor from among its members, who serves as council chair but has no veto power. The current mayor is Don Davidson, the Deputy Mayor is Conrad Lee and the city’s manager is Steve Sarkozy.
The position of Mayor is largely ceremonial in Bellevue as the City Manager runs the City’s day-to-day operations. The mayor runs council meetings, helps choose the issues that get on the council’s meeting agendas, and serves as the city’s most visible spokesperson. The position of Mayor is part-time. In practice, operational authority is held by the City Manager, the position that supervises an employee/consultant form of municipal authority. Indeed, more consideration is given the selection of City Manager than many candidates for City Council, the position of Mayor is elected not by popular vote but by the seven members of Council..
