Redmond planning commissioner Vanessa Kritzer has announced that she will be running for Redmond City Council, Pos. 5.

“I’m running for City Council because I want to ensure that as Redmond grows it can continue to be a thriving, accessible, and inclusive place for our children and future generations,” she said in a press release. “I will work to bring people together to make progress on building affordable housing, providing transportation options that meet all our needs, and protecting our environment. In my career, I have worked to drive innovation that empowers citizens and public sector organizations to take action for meaningful impact. On the City Council, I hope to continue that work and promise to ask tough questions, engage Redmond’s residents, and use a data-driven approach to policy making that helps Redmond become a truly smart city.”

Kritzer lives in downtown Redmond with her husband and young daughter, according to the release. She has worked for environmental and human rights nonprofit organizations, including the League of Conservation Voters. She currently works at Microsoft, where she has focused on public sector technology that helps make cities and communities healthier, safer and more sustainable, the release states.

Kritzer holds master of business administration and master of public administration degrees from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business and Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, according to the release. During graduate school, she was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to serve as the student member of the University of Washington board of regents.

Kritzer is a first-time candidate for office. In addition to her position as a Redmond planning commissioner, she currently serves on the board of directors for the Anti-Defamation League – Pacific Northwest and the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington.