nwasianweekly.com
Dec. 22, 2007

Conrad Lee

Conrad Lee: the new face of Bellevue

On Jan. 7, 2008, the seven members of the Bellevue City Council will elect a new mayor by choosing one of their own. This is a largely ceremonial role, as the decision-making power lies with the council. This doesn’t mean, however, that the position is unimportant. Conrad Lee certainly doesn’t think so, and he is very eager to receive the appointment of mayor of Bellevue.

Lee has served on the Bellevue City Council for 14 years, making him the longest consecutive serving council member. He is also the only person of color to ever serve on the council, and the only immigrant.

As Bellevue becomes increasingly diverse — 30 percent of the city’s population is made up of immigrants — it needs a mayor who reflects that trend. Asian Americans are the fastest growing population in Bellevue, making up 17 percent of the population, according to the last U.S. census.

Lee is the epitome of the immigrant success story. He came from Hong Kong in 1958, in order to attend college in the States. He has lived in Bellevue for 40 years, a true old-timer. He became a successful engineer and small businessman, and was a regional administrator for the U.S. Small Business Association.

Lee got involved in politics to participate in the democratic process and contribute to his community. He is very passionate about the role of Asian Americans in politics, and very conscious of his own obligations to be a role model and a trailblazer. As a moderate Republican, Lee has chosen to venture away from the safety of most of his Asian American peers, the vast majority of whom are Democrats.

Lee has an enthusiasm and a genuine love for America that is rare in these cynical times. The cliché is true: He loves his country as only an immigrant can, and that optimism is something Bellevue could stand to adopt, as it grows into a retail and commercial powerhouse, now with the second biggest economy in the state.

This economy is largely due to trade with Japan, Korea, Taiwan and China. Appointing an Asian American as mayor of Bellevue is a sign of good faith, and though the gesture would be just that, a gesture, symbolic, Lee would represent the city’s eagerness to foster good relations with these trading partners.

Lee also has an innocence that almost borders on naiveté at times. He has been known to wonder why he was not invited to Democratic events hosted by friends, believing that common interests would override partisan loyalties.

However, we support Lee as Bellevue mayor not only for who he is, but also because of what he has accomplished.

When Lee first joined the City Council, a 6 percent property tax increase every year was automatic. Lee and his fellow council members questioned the soundness of this programmed increase, and asked for annual reports detailing the need for an increase. Tellingly, since then, there has been an increase in the property tax only twice, the first time eight years ago, the second just last year, and both increases were for 2 percent or less.

Lee also insisted on developing a long-range financial plan for Bellevue, extending 20 years. As far as he knows, no other city in the country has such a far-reaching plan. But Lee has seen how rapidly Bellevue has grown, and believes that fiscal management and responsibility are priorities. In fact, Bellevue typically enjoys a budget surplus. Lee said that surplus usually ranges from $2 million to $4 million each year, which could easily be squandered here and there on meaningless expenditures. But with a long-range plan in place, a million here and a million there gets accounted for and appropriately applied.

Lee is also passionate about education, and served on the Parent Program Delivery Council of his children’s high school. He successfully lobbied for Chinese language to be offered at Newport High School. Lee said that in a time when we can look forward to the possibility of a female president, or a black president, surely an Asian American mayor isn’t so far out of reach.

Bellevue has never had a nonwhite mayor, or a nonwhite council member, for that matter, until Lee joined. Lee readil acknowledges that the position of mayor is a figurehead. He said, “Anyone on the council is qualified to be mayor. The mayor’s job is to represent the city. That’s the only requirement. It’s a symbol, what Bellevue is supposed to be. I think Bellevue is ready for this symbol. It’s a very progressive city, always cutting-edge.”

We agree that Bellevue is ready for its first nonwhite mayor. Lee is a natural choice for Bellevue mayor, and we look forward to the experience, the commitment and the zeal he would bring to this position.

Send correspondence to:
Northwest Asian Weekly • P.O. Box 3468 • Seattle • WA  98114
Tel: 206.223.5559 •  Fax: 206.223.0626 • Email: info@nwasianweekly.com
Please bookmark this site: www.nwasianweekly.com.