Claudia Balducci is a familiar name—and face—on the Eastside. From her early days in public safety to serving as Bellevue’s Mayor and now on the King County Council, she’s built a reputation as a collaborative, solutions-oriented leader who listens and gets results.

Claudia has spent her career focused on the basics that matter most: housing, transportation, public safety, and a healthy local economy. She led the county’s Affordable Housing Task Force, helped set regional housing targets, and has consistently pushed for policies that support both housing production and tenant stability. Her work has earned her trust across the region—from local governments to housing providers and community organizations.

On public safety, Claudia supports well-staffed, well-trained law enforcement alongside stronger behavioral health services. Her experience managing the county’s detention system gives her a rare, informed perspective on how to align public safety, courts, and treatment services in a way that improves outcomes.

Transportation is another area where Claudia has made a lasting impact. She played a key role in bringing light rail to the Eastside, helped secure funding for major projects like RapidRide and the SR 520 bridge, and championed the Eastrail trail network—investments that help people and businesses stay connected.

She also brings a thoughtful approach to budgeting, advocating for transparency and performance-based spending. Claudia supports lifting the outdated one percent property tax cap—but only when it’s tied to clear accountability and measurable outcomes.

Claudia’s leadership style is grounded in collaboration, not partisanship. She brings people together to solve problems and stays focused on delivering what Eastside communities need.