"Mercer Island needs to be a community where children thrive, families grow, and aging is met with dignity and care. This vision is what unites us: building a stronger, more connected community for everyone. I’d be honored to earn your vote for Mercer Island City Council Position 7 - and to help make this vision a reality."
-Julie Hsieh, MD
Introducing Julie
Julie Hsieh (pronounced Shay) is a dedicated entrepreneur, community advocate and longtime Mercer Island resident with a deep commitment to service and community. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University and received her Medical Doctorate from Baylor College of Medicine, bringing decades of experience in healthcare, leadership, and problem-solving. Julie has been a tireless volunteer for public schools, and led on community boards as a trusted voice for our community.
Dear Mercer Island Community
Dear Mercer Island community,
In June, I was named in a lawsuit filed by King County against several parties accused of cutting down more than 140 trees on protected parkland near my elderly parents’ new home in Issaquah. From the beginning, I stated publicly that neither my parents nor I were involved in this destructive and unlawful act.
This week, my parents’ neighbor admitted on Channel 13 News to hiring the tree company and later clarified to The Seattle Times that I had no involvement.
On July 3, King County formally filed paperwork to remove my name from the lawsuit—affirming that I bear no responsibility for the tree removal.
I’m not a career politician—this is my first time running for public office. Yet over the past week, I was attacked simply because I chose to step forward as a candidate.
Here’s who I truly am: a family doctor who cared for patients in Bellevue for seven years (2007-2014). An artist and gallery owner who brings people together through creativity. A devoted volunteer in the Mercer Island School District, and an active member of our Rotary Club and broader community.
I stepped up to run for City Council because our community needed a candidate. Running for office is not easy—it’s an act of vulnerability and commitment. And yet, this is a path I’ve chosen out of love for our city. I’m deeply grateful to the many Islanders who reached out with kindness and stood by me during this challenging time. You remind me why I’m running: because we believe in each other—as neighbors, as citizens, and as friends.
Now more than ever, we need leaders who act with integrity, who bring strong values and a moral compass to their decisions, and who are committed to protecting and strengthening our community.Adversity builds resilience. And I believe true leadership is forged in moments like these. I’m ready to face Mercer Island’s most pressing issues with clarity, conviction, and care—for every one of us.
Thank you for your support. I’m truly honored and grateful. I look forward to seeing you at Summer Celebration on Saturday, July 12!
Warmly,
Julie
MI Reporter article - July 3, 2025
Grow Your Vision
Grateful for all the community support
at my campaign kickoff!
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Why I am running for city council
I Love Mercer Island
I am running for city council to give back to the community my family and I have loved since we first moved here. I show my love for this community by being a doer and a helper. I am an avid volunteer in Mercer Island School District and a board member of Mercer Island Schools Foundation, our local Rotary Club, and our Farmers Market. I’m also a member of Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL), chair of the Mercer Island Fine Arts Advisory Council (FAAC), and a supporter of MI Youth and Family Services (MIYFS). I volunteer because I care deeply about the community and the vibrancy and quality of life in our unique and special city.
I believe Mercer Island’s future owes a debt of gratitude to the volunteers of the past and depends on engaging the volunteers of today. It is critical we find a way to safeguard the traditions we Islanders hold dear, while thinking creatively about how to shape our future for the enjoyment of generations to come.
Values and Vision
Empowering our Community
Mercer Island has given me a deeper sense of belonging than anywhere else I’ve lived. In my experience as a physician, an artist, and business owner, I have learned that bringing people together, hearing from multiple perspectives, and making decisions with a holistic approach ensures the greatest outcomes.
Building through collaboration
I want to maintain and improve the health of our island’s ecosystem. Strong communities are built through collaboration. My goal as a member of our Mercer Island City Council will be to work collaboratively with other councilmembers, knowing that for our city government to best represent the interests of all islanders, teamwork is crucial. I would also leverage my existing relationships within various community groups such as the Mercer Island Rotary Club, Mercer Island School District (MISD), Mercer Island Visual Arts League (MIVAL), our realtors, Mercer Island Youth and Family Services (MIYFS) and more to increase collaboration between the city and the institutions at the heart of our island.
Revitalize Town Center
& Public Safety
I want to see our Town Center revitalized and would work alongside retail business owners, Chamber of Commerce, and fellow councilmembers to prioritize solutions for concerns about parking, lighting, and retail options to increase quality of life on the island.
I would work to ensure that Island residents and visitors feel safe to live, work and play here. I would partner with our Police and Fire Departments to address such issues as traffic and pedestrian safety, as well as public safety within our neighborhoods.
My campaign has been awarded a 2025
Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate
distinction. I will advocate for gun violence
prevention and making a commitment to
govern with gun safety in mind.
Giving Community a Voice
As an elected official I would actively seek feedback from fellow Islanders - embracing those who have been part of our community’s rich history and welcoming those who have recently moved here for all that our island has to offer. I see myself, and all of us, as stewards of this community and I would be honored to represent you and our shared values on the Mercer Island City Council.
MI Leaders recognize that Julie is a leader for our future.
Julie has regional relationships that will help MI.
Representative My-Linh Thai (LD 41)
Representative Janice Zahn (LD 41)
Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos (LD 37)
Representative Cindy Ryu (LD 32)
Deputy Mayor Dave Rosenbaum
Councilmember Craig Reynolds
Councilmember Ted Weinberg
Councilmember Wendy Weiker
Bellevue Mayor Lynne Robinson
Newcastle City Councilmember Sun Burford
School Board Member Maggie Tai Tucker
School Board Member Deborah Lurie
School Board Member Cristina Martinez
Fmr. WA State Senator, Mayor, & School Board Member Fred Jarrett
Fmr. Legislator & Mayor Judy Clibborn
Fmr. Mayor Benson Wong
Fmr. Mayor Deborah Bertlin
Fmr. School Board Member Charles "Chick" Hodge
Fmr. School Board Member Tracy Drinkwater
Fmr. School Board Member Tam Dinh
Planning Commissioner Anthony Perez
Fmr. Planning Commissioner Carolyn Boatsman
Fmr. Planning Commissioner Tiffin Goodman
Parks & Rec Commissioner Mar Brettman
Over 200 Community Members
Michele Agosti
Brooke Aldrich
Lauren Alexander
Becky Ardillo
Emily Arnsdorf
Connor Auld
Angela Bahng
Meghan Banta
Phil Banta
Steve Barclay
Micheal Beke
Johana Beresky
Marc Birtel
Julian Bradley
Heidi Bradley
Amy Brockmeyer
Jessi Biagi
Sara Bowen
Steph Boyer
Tasha Brown
Alan Bunin, MD
Alyson Burks
Stephanie Burnett
Michelle Cabrera, MD
Stephanie Castle
Lily Chang
Cathy Chen
Judy Chen
Irene Cheung
Yuchi Chou
Connie Clark-Redmond
Susan Conrad-Wang
Novelett Cotter
Jennifer Crespi
Paneen G Davidson
Julie Day
Bob Day
Paulette Denman
Zander Doroski
Louise Farrell
John Farrell
Jason Farrish
David Figatner
Alice Finch
Jennifer Flood
Kimberly Florence
Brad Fowler
Kimberly Frank
Jordan Friedman
Liz Friedman
Amy Fujishige
Hilarie Galloway
Debi Gerstel
Kate Gilham
Cindy Go
Nancy Diner Gordon
Vince Ha
John Hamer
Courtney Hampson
Hill Harper
Jill Hawkins
Louise Hankes
Jenny Harrington
Lisa Herzinger
Tammy Y Heydon
Arwa Hijazi
Virl Hill
Jessica Ho
William Hochberg
Sarah Hollenbeck
Yijiao Hong
Anne Hritzay
Robyn Hsu
Samruddhi Hurkadli
Tricia Jaffe
Sara Yun Jordan
Grace Mariko Kalish, MD
Teresa Kang
Michael Kang
Sarah Karim
Jerry Kavesh
Michelle Kavesh
Allison Kawano
Matt Kawano
Liam Kelly
Sara Kelly
Susan Kim
Susan Kleiner
Motoko Kodera
Kouji Kodera
Erin Kraweic
Peter Kraweic
Pradeep Kumar
Lisa Lackland
Barbara Lahav
Eli Lahav
Elizabeth Laughlin
Katharine Lamperti, MD
Thomas Lamperti, MD
Anna Lee
Nancy Lee
Kaitlyn Lee
Yen-Ling Lee
Diana Lein
Robin Li
Michael Lill
Toy Linus
Tin-Yuan Liu
Sally Loeser
Gwen Loosmore
Julie Love
Jaymee Lundin
David Lundin
Brian Lurie
Carrie Mackay
Paul Maritz
Yaffa Maritz
Michele Marquardi
Lesley Malakoti
Dan Malakoti
Kelly Mann
Charlene Matukaitis
Lylan McCarthy
Kathy McDonald
Neil McDonald
Erin McGuire
Leslie Meagley
Marna Metcalf
Sheila Miller Rivera
Terry Moreman
Denise Moriguchi
Dr. Paramita Mukherjee
Christine Nakano
Deborah Nelson
Nikki Norvell
Michael Norvell
Laura Oberto
Simon Javan Okelo
Daniel Odievich
Amy Olsson
Anjana Pandey
Jeannie Pae
Justin Pae
Carin Parcel
Maki Park
Effie Parks
Mariana Parks
Stephanie Parmenter
Patricia Pelter
Sharon Perez
Lucia Pirzio-Biroli
Billy Poll
Ricca Poll
Nitya Pradeepkumar
Jane Reynolds
Karla Rimmer
Adam Rimmer
John Rivera-Dirks
Gene Robertson
Melissa Ronaldson
Mark Ronaldson
Deborah Rosen
Aaron Rosenstein
Jane Rosenstein
Samantha Rubenfield
Stuart Scarff
Rachel Schindler
Jennifer Selby
Edie Shen
Steve Sheppard
Christy Shiers
Monica Shih
Rahul Shinde
Floyd Short
Suzanne Skone
Ranjeet Singh
Sharon Singh
Bharath Siravara
Ashley Sternberg
Dennis Su
Millie Su
Xiaoyuan Su
Hsiaolin Sun
Sandy Sun
Ivy Suzuki-Jaecks
Jasmine Thapar
Brian Thomas
Denise Scarcello Thomas
Anne Hill Thomson
Diane Tien
Garutav Tiwari
Pat Turner
Pashmi Vaney
Susie Vannatter
Mina Krishna Velamoor
Siddharth Valamoor
Lucie Vetrovsky
Sharon Walia
Helen Weyant
Scott Whelan
Carol Whitaker
Ken Whitaker
Sharon Woo-Tseng
Stephanie Wyss
Corrie Yackulic
Sophy Yang
Ron Yeh, MD
Ava Yeh
Andrew Yeh
Stephen Yu
Gerald Yuen
Hai Yan Zhang
Daquan Zhao
Vivian Zhou
Endorsements
Distinction:
Julie's campaign has been awarded the 2025 Moms Demand Action Gun Sense Candidate distinction. Julie will advocate for gun violence prevention and making a commitment to govern with gun safety in mind.
Testimonials
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"Julie brings a blend of heart, hustle, intelligence, and creativity to everything she touches on Mercer Island. Her commitment to our community shows up not in words, but in action—again and again. When something needs doing, Julie doesn’t wait—she steps up, rallies others, and gets it done with energy, optimism, and thoughtfulness. From leading in the PTA to serving on the boards of the Schools Foundation and the Rotary Club of MI, she’s been a steady force for good. She also brings a uniquely well-rounded perspective as a small business owner, physician, and parent. I’m proud to support her for City Council."
-Jennifer Flood
"Mercer Island would be lucky to have Julie representing us on the City Council. She listens, shows up, and works well with a wide range of people. Julie has been a strong advocate and leader for our schools and our community. Most importantly, Julie is smart and creative and she gets things done."
- Kathy Moffett McDonald
"If I was asked to describe the qualities of good governance I would say collaborative, responsible, solution-oriented, and aligned with the values of the community. This also describes Julie Hsieh. I have seen Julie work with diverse people and organizations to improve good things to make them great and to envision new strategies to address unmet needs. She understands the important role of the school district in Mercer Island life, as our largest single employer, primary city partner on fields, parks and community health, and driver of local real estate values. Julie knows how to forge productive partnerships, pay attention to details and assess impact. She has a proven track record of effective cooperation and positive leadership and I heartily endorse Julie Hsieh for Mercer Island City Council."
-Robin Li
"Julie Hsieh has demonstrated her commitment to the MI community by being an active parent volunteer in our school district, serving on multiple PTA Boards, organizing community events supporting music and the arts, giving her time and energy to foundations that support students academically and the mental health of Islanders of all ages. I have never met anybody more involved in the MI community! I'm thrilled that she plans to make an even bigger impact on the Island by running for City Council. She embodies the qualities I wish to see in a representative for the people of MI. Julie is a smart, passionate advocate, who brings with her a strong work ethic, love of community, global perspective, desire for betterment, and who will always listen and help out- with a big smile on her face. Julie is the type of person who always says "Yes" when asked. Mercer Island voters should say "YES" to Julie being on the City Council."
-Ly-Lan McCarthy
"Julie Hsieh would be a great addition to our city council. She is a winning mix of: High energy, hard work, fiscal responsibility, caring, creativity, and thoughtfulness. She is a person who Makes Things Happen. She is also a good listener and is capable of evolving her thoughts as she learns more about a situation, which is rare in public life these days. Julie is already a builder and revitalizer of communities. Mercer Island could only be the better for adding her to the council."
- Maggie Tai Tucker
I’ve worked with Julie Hsieh through the PTA Reflections art program, and she consistently makes a difference through her hard work and positive energy. She generously offered her gallery to showcase student artwork, creating a meaningful experience for young artists. Julie is reliable, community-minded, and solution-oriented. Her dedication and attitude will make her a strong asset to the City Council. I fully endorse her for this role.
-Suzanne Vannatter
Julie Hsieh is an exceptional advocate for our community's young artists, exemplified by her exemplary leadership of The Reflections Art program and the generous opening of her own art gallery to nurture emerging talent. Julie's due diligence as a PTA member is unparalleled, and she consistently seeks out every opportunity to bring artistic skills into the limelight. Beyond fostering creativity, I've seen Julie courageously stand up for causes she believes in and firmly defend her positions. Julie is a net positive contributor to our community and will undoubtedly be an invaluable asset to our City Council, bringing both passionate advocacy and unwavering principles.
-Pradeepkumar
When I think of Julie, I think of a Connector and Gatherer who deeply cares about our city, and in a way that invites in and includes multiple and diverse groups of people. The embodiment of this, to me, is how she invited talented students that she knows through her incredible volunteering in the school district, to showcase their musical abilities at an art gallery walk at Sotheby's. We need more on MI of what Julie did with this event: bringing together and celebrating youth, their families and seniors at a business on the island. I am honored to endorse Julie's run for City Council and the endless possibilities of what that can mean in gathering us all together.
-Sarah Karim
Julie brings together the rare combination of bounds of positive energy with critical thinking and problem solving. She is a collaborator who cares deeply about every individual, family, business, and school in the Mercer Island Community. She exemplifies what it means to put community first. She exudes optimism while maintaining pragmatism, is a natural humble leader and will make a wonderful addition to our Mercer Island City Council. It is my honor to endorse Julie Hsieh.
-Laura Oberto
Julie in the community
I love my community and I show it through countless hours serving and volunteering to help make Mercer Island a better place to live for everyone. Here are beautiful memories from chairing Fine Arts Showcase to being a table captain as a board member of MI Schools Foundation, to sponsoring ice cream at Community Day, to serving on the board of Rotary Club of Mercer Island, to creating leaf art at Rotary Park, to advocating for increased school funding at Eastside Town Hall, to being a table captain for MI Youth and Family Services, to hosting art exhibitions and fundraisers for Islanders at my gallery, to supporting the MI Tree Lot to help fund MIYFS, to supporting Orchestra, Band, and Drama boosters, to participating in Art Uncorked with MIVAL, to participating in MI Art Walk at the Town Center, to supporting local causes, I am with my community, my neighbors and my friends. So grateful to all of you.
About Julie Hsieh
Islander Julie Hsieh grew up in Dallas, Texas, and has lived on Mercer Island from 2008 to 2014, and since 2021. She is an artist and CEO/Founder of Yuan Ru Art Center in Bellevue. Prior to pursuing a career in the arts, she was a family physician with her own private practice from 2007-2014 in Bellevue. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Human Biology from Stanford University, Medical Doctorate from Baylor College of Medicine, and completed her family medicine residency at UC Irvine.
In 2014, Julie and her family moved to Taipei, where she discovered her love for art. She simultaneously developed as an artist and launched her first gallery, Yuan Ru Gallery. Back on Mercer Island since the summer of 2021, Julie is grateful to have the chance to give back to the beautiful community of Mercer Island.
