By Ruth Longoria

Island resident Lisa Belden is the third candidate for Mercer Island City Council to cite Interstate-90 as their reason for running for public office.

Belden, a 53-year-old lawyer, wife and mother of two, plans to run against Councilmember Dan Grausz for his seat, Position No. 2.

Also running is Bob Baker, who declared his candidacy last week and will run against councilman Jim Pearman for position No. 4; and Brenda Finkenbinder and Mike Grady, who both want Mayor Alan Merkle’s seat, position No. 6.

After eight years on the council, and six years as mayor, Merkle decided not to run again for that position.

Belden said Merkle’s decision to step down is a sign that change is in the works for the council.

“I can bring a fresh perspective to the council and this is the right time for change,” Belden said. “I think there’s been a serious erosion of confidence in the council — highlighted by the I-90 issue.”

Belden has been at the forefront of the I-90 issue since last year, when she organized a petition to overturn the City Council’s amendment to the 1976 agreement that allowed Islanders single occupant vehicles access to the center lanes of I-90. Belden has expressed opposition to various council member’s views concerning that decision, in particular Grausz, whom she has chosen to run against.

“I have a different approach to handling citizen opposition than Dan,” she said, adding that she listens to varying viewpoints and takes into consideration the effect losing the center lanes to Sound Transit would have on Islanders.

“I’m ready to stand up against powerful Sound Transit,” she said. “I don’t agree (with the council) that just because (Sound Transit) wants the center lanes they should get them. We need to be a strong voice making reasonable demands on them.”

Belden hopes to push the state Department of Transportation into a study of impact on the Island, which, she said, would put a stop to Sound Transit’s plans.

“They (DOT) have to take the lead. Sound Transit is just interested in how the ridership can increase,” she said.

Belden also plans to stand up for the rights of residents concerning density issues and parks on the Island.

“When people move into a neighborhood, they do it because they like what they see. So, when you make a change, you need to get the approval of the neighborhood,” she said.

Belden moved to Mercer Island from downtown Seattle 13 years ago. She was born in Westwood, Calif. She graduated from Marlborough High School, a girls’ school in Los Angeles, in 1969.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in human biology from Stanford University, where she met her now-husband, Matt O’Meara. The couple has been married 29 years. They have two children, Maddie, 18, a 2005 graduate of Mercer Island High School, and John, 15, a sophomore at the high school. Maddie O’Meara plans to attend Stanford in the fall.

Belden’s love of politics began many years ago. While in college, she worked summer jobs in the offices of two U.S. Congressmen in Washington, D.C. She also was active in community issues in Fairbanks. She has roots in the political arena, as her great, great uncle, George C. Perkins, was governor of California from 1880 to 1883. He served in the U.S. senate for 22 years.

Belden worked as a paralegal in Fairbanks, Alaska. She and her husband built a log cabin and raised horses, pigs and other livestock. They later moved to Vashon Island and then to the downtown Seattle area, while Belden returned to law school. She earned a Juris Doctorate, in 1987, from Seattle University. She lightened her legal load as her children were young, but now that the children are almost grown, she said, she is looking forward to returning to work as a lawyer. She also plans to spend her time working for the Island community through the City Council.

“The Island has more options here if we have a change in leadership,” she said. “I can bring a fresh voice and a willingness, time and ability to dig into the issues.”