Melissa Stuart brings policy depth, accessibility, and a practical mindset to the Redmond City Council. First elected in 2021, she has distinguished herself as one of the council’s most informed and engaged members. From hosting regular office hours at the library to initiating quarterly listening sessions in neighborhoods, Stuart has made herself available to residents in ways that build trust and accountability.
She also brings a rare level of technical fluency to her role. With a background in nonprofit leadership and more than a decade of experience managing public funding programs, she approaches public policy with an emphasis on outcomes and data. Stuart also currently chairs the City Council’s Planning & Public Works Committee and represents Redmond on multiple regional growth and infrastructure boards.
Still, Redmond is at a crossroads. The rapid expansion of progressive policymaking in recent years has produced unintended consequences. Housing development in key growth areas has slowed, permitting timelines have grown more burdensome, and energy reliability concerns have mounted. High fees and rigid mandates have made it harder — not easier — for builders to meet demand. If left unchecked, these policies risk undermining Redmond’s long-term economic and livability goals.
A thoughtful progressive herself, Councilmember Stuart is well-positioned to lead a course correction. Her willingness to listen, paired with a data-informed approach, makes her a credible voice to reevaluate these policies. Voters should expect her to take a more pragmatic look at what is working — and what is not — and push for reforms that make Redmond more affordable, more efficient, and more responsive to current challenges.
Redmond is also not just any city. As home to one of the largest and most influential technology companies in the world, it has a unique obligation to lead on the use of data, AI, and innovation to improve the delivery of city services. Stuart understands this dynamic, and has the policy background to ensure Redmond modernizes its operations while protecting resident privacy and ensuring equity in service provision.
