Staff Report

Adam Ragheb, an aerospace systems engineer, announced his candidacy for Mercer Island City Council Position 6 on May 20.

He will run against Lisa Anderl (who currently holds Position 4) and Kate Akyuz. Mayor Benson Wong currently holds Position 6, but will not run for re-election.

“My passions as a city council member would focus around keeping our parks beautiful, healthy, and accessible, keeping our schools well-funded, and supporting the residential character of Mercer Island. I am a strong proponent of making decisive data-driven decisions to avoid analysis paralysis and its associated costs and inaction,” he said.

Ragheb, who grew up working on the family farm in the midwest and is the son of two educators, said he learned to appreciate the value of hard work, good environmental stewardship, and excellent schools.

If elected, he plans to open the lines of communication with his constituents: “I pledge to hear every Island resident who wishes to be heard, even in the cases where our personal beliefs may differ,” he said.

Along with a background focused on the aerospace industry, he has experience with utility right-of-way and route design, soil conservation, airport land-use permitting, tree law, renewable energy, and administrative law proceedings.

“I think that great synergies can be achieved by bringing a science-based viewpoint and additional analytical background to the city council,” he said.

After living in Everett, Renton and Seattle’s University and Central districts, Ragheb said he and his wife moved to Mercer Island because they were drawn to its top-notch schools, spacious and safe neighborhoods, its beautiful and clean parks, and the accessibility to the greater Puget Sound region.