Bellevue City Council races looking good for progressives; Laing/Stokes contest is close

One of the bright spots for pro­gres­sives in tonight’s elec­tion appears to be the Belle­vue City Coun­cil races, which were hot­ly con­test­ed, espe­cial­ly dur­ing the last few weeks.

Incum­bents John Chelmini­ak (run­ning for Posi­tion 3), and Clau­dia Bal­duc­ci (run­ning for Posi­tion 5), are both doing very well. Chelmini­ak has 67.80% of the vote; his oppo­nent Michelle Hill­horst has 31.96% for.

Clau­dia Bal­duc­ci, mean­while, is defeat­ing her oppo­nent Pat­ti Mann, 65.63% to 34.13%.

The third seat in up for grabs, Posi­tion 1, fea­tures Aaron Laing (the right wing can­di­date) and John Stokes (the pro­gres­sive can­di­date) in a tight race. As of this writ­ing, John Stokes has a slight lead, 50.26% to 49.46%.

Pro­gres­sives are hop­ing that he holds onto that lead and builds off it to win Grant Deg­gin­ger’s seat. Deg­gin­ger, who is retir­ing, has been a strong sup­port­er of Sound Tran­sit’s East Link light rail project, along with Bal­duc­ci and Chelminak.