Meet Your City Council

Jeralee Anderson is the President/CEO and Co-Founder of Greenroads Foundation, a Redmond nonprofit organization focused on sustainability education, performance management, and strategic programming for transportation capital projects. She received her doctorate in sustainability and civil engineering from the University of Washington in 2012 and is a licensed professional engineer. Ms. Anderson worked in a variety of structural, geotechnical, green building, and construction engineering positions after receiving her undergraduate engineering degree from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a minor in music performance. She was recognized in 2013 by the Obama Administration as a Transportation Champion of Change for the 21st Century for her domestic and international work with Greenroads. Ms. Anderson has been a resident of Redmond since 2010 and is an active volunteer for Seattle Beagle Rescue. She enjoys reading, health and nutrition, crochet, weightlifting, cycling, teaching, and walking her dogs. She currently represents the City as an alternate on the Cascade Water Alliance (CWA), and she serves as an Association of Washington Cities (AWC) representative on the State Public Works Board.

David moved from Southern Oregon to Redmond to work for Microsoft in 1991 and works as a Software Test Engineer. He graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. His hobbies are riding motorcycles, cooking and playing in Redmond's recreational softball league. He lives with his wife Danielle and pets in the Viewpoint neighborhood of Redmond.

He currently represents the City on the Economic Development Council (EDC) of Seattle and King County, the Emergency Management Advisory Committee (EMAC), the Eastside Transportation Partnership (ETP), and as the chair of the Redmond Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC).

Steve Fields has lived in Redmond for over 30 years. He worked across all functions of government in his positions at King County and the City of Seattle in the Executive offices. Fields guided elected officials on policy, budget, and operational improvements. He advised department heads and their staff to help the government perform better. He currently represents the City of Redmond as a member of the Eastside Transportation Partnership (ETP). Fields is also a Redmond small business owner with his wife.

Jessica Forsythe is an award-winning Creative Director and owner of a small graphic design studio which works primarily with clients who seek to better their community. Ms. Forsythe is a thoughtful, creative thinker who takes a holistic approach to every project. She believes strongly in being involved at the local level and knows first-hand the impact one person can have on their community.

Originally from Northeast Ohio, Jessica graduated from Kent State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication Design with a concentration in Environmental Design. She has worked in environmental design, architecture, branding, and was the Art Director for the Seattle Symphony. She has volunteered with numerous community and charity organizations, most notably her decade-long involvement with Help Portrait International for which she is the Founder of the Redmond, Washington Chapter. Jessica has also served on various non-profit boards including the League of Women Voters Seattle-King County Executive Board and as the c3 Treasurer.

She enjoys hiking, running, cycling, kayaking, skiing, and rock climbing.

Born in Dallas, Texas to a middle-class American Muslim family, Varisha received her BA degree from the University of Washington in Communication⏤Journalism and Political Science. She is a returning Redmond resident, having moved to the city with her parents as a child and now with her husband in the newly-developing Marymoor neighborhood. From playing little league softball at Hartman Park, to commuting on the 542 bus to attend the UW, Varisha is proud to call Redmond home.

During the 2016 presidential cycle, Varisha was elected to serve as one of the youngest Presidential Electors in the historic Electoral College to represent voters from WA State’s 1st Congressional District. Varisha has worked at numerous nonprofit organizations in King County where she focused her work on making media and government more representative and inclusive. Most recently, Varisha worked as a Political Action Committee (PAC) Director of OneAmerica Votes.

As a journalist with the Seattle Globalist and other local publications, she developed a journalistic beat on issues pertaining to race, immigrants and communities of color in the greater-Seattle area. While a student at the UW, she helped establish the Middle Eastern Student Commission of ASUW (the Associated Students of the University of Washington) and served as the founding Director.

She enjoys snowboarding, barbecuing and traveling with her husband, Yassir.

Vanessa grew up in the Bridle Trails neighborhood and now is raising her family in Downtown Redmond. Before joining the Council, Vanessa served on the City of Redmond’s Planning Commission. She brings experience from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Vanessa spent years working in DC for environmental and international human rights organizations, including the League of Conservation Voters. She currently works at Microsoft, where she has focused on public sector technology that helps make communities healthier, safer, and more sustainable.

Vanessa holds MBA and MPA degrees from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business and Evans School of Public Policy and Governance. During graduate school, she was appointed by Governor Inslee to serve as the sole student member of the University of Washington Board of Regents. She loves volunteering and currently serves as a board member for the Anti-Defamation League – Pacific Northwest and the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington.

Melissa Stuart, MNPL, is a non-profit leader working to improve the lives of children, youth, and families. She’s currently working on behalf of youth at Boys & Girls Clubs of King County. Her past work includes securing affordable access to behavioral healthcare for families at Youth Eastside Services, ensuring educational justice for youth in foster care at Treehouse, and more. Melissa is a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, former board member at Zero Waste Washington, and previously served as a Redmond Library Trustee. Melissa grew up on the Kitsap Peninsula. She lives in Redmond’s Overlake neighborhood with her husband and stepson.