Mo Malakoutian was elected to the City Council in November 2023, for a four-year term starting in 2024. At his first meeting, his colleagues elected him Deputy Mayor for 2024 and 2025. Bellevue Lifestyle caught up with Mo to learn more about his journey.
What led you to become Deputy Mayor of Bellevue?
My journey into civic engagement has been a natural progression, rooted in my deep-seated commitment to giving back to the communities I call home. From a young age, I felt driven to expand my circle of impact by contributing positively to society. This journey began with my involvement in various nonprofits, including the Boys and Girls Club and Tree House after moving to the US. For the past eight years, I've dedicated my efforts to Wellspring Family Services, a local nonprofit focused on preventing family homelessness.
My journey took an unexpected turn when I received a letter regarding a significant remodeling project in my condo association. Drawing upon my background in construction, I joined the condo association's board amidst this large-scale renovation project and leveraged my engineering and construction expertise for the community's benefit.
This experience served as a bridge between my non-profit work and a broader civic engagement. I felt empowered to explore how I could contribute on a larger scale. I participated in the Bellevue Essentials program, an 11-week introduction to civic leadership initiated by a former MBA classmate, and from there I seized the opportunity to serve on the Planning Commission for 6.5 years, channeling my construction, engineering, and family homelessness knowledge to address community needs.
While I was motivated by others to pursue a seat on the council, I hesitated to challenge incumbents until an opening emerged in 2023. With encouragement from a departing council member who believed in my potential to effect positive change, I took the leap and officially entered the race.
In the first council meeting after being inaugurated, my fellow council members elected me as Deputy Mayor. This unexpected honor motivated me even more to serve the people of Bellevue and amplifying their voices in local governance.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I'd like to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Deputy Mayor of Bellevue. As a resident of Bellevue for more than 10 years, I'm dedicated to making this city a vibrant and welcoming community for everyone. It's truly an honor to work alongside the mayor, council members, residents, community leaders, city staff, and other stakeholders to make our city an even better place to live, work, and thrive. I'm committed to listening to your voices, advocating for your needs, and collaborating on innovative solutions that benefit everyone. I know for a fact that your voice matters, so please come and share your concerns and thoughts with us at our next council meeting, office hours, community meeting, or visit the city website to learn more about how to get involved.