Meet Your City Council

Menka Soni is a visionary leader, nonprofit founder and president, community advocate, and global change-maker dedicated to building stronger, more inclusive communities. She brings over 30 years of corporate experience with T-Mobile, Microsoft, Starbucks, and General Motors, along with more than a decade of civic and nonprofit leadership across Washington state.

Councilmember Soni currently serves as the King County Precinct Committee Officer (Red 45-3584), Vice President of the OneRedmond Foundation, and a long-term member of the Renton Lodging & Tourism Board. She recently resigned from after a decade of service from Renton Mayor’s Inclusion Task Force, Redmond Arts & Culture Commission, and the regional SKHHP Housing Advisory Board. As the Founder and President of AmPowering, Councilmember Soni has led impactful initiatives supporting domestic violence survivors, mental health advocacy, food-insecure families, youth development, and community resilience, positively impacting thousands of people across Washington. She is also the recipient of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by former U.S. President Joe Biden, recognizing her lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service.

Councilmember Soni has lived in Redmond for over a decade with her husband, two daughters, and their dog. Originally from Delhi, India, she brings a collaborative, service-driven approach to public office and is committed to fostering a thriving, inclusive, and connected Redmond.

Vivek Prakriya is a lifelong resident of Redmond’s Overlake neighborhood and a proud alumnus of the City’s public schools. Before joining the City Council, he served as the youth advisor on Redmond’s Human Services Commission.

Councilmember Prakriya entered the University of Washington directly after middle school where he is studying computer science and mathematics. He has worked as a machine learning engineer at Amazon in the Payments division, where he has helped improve refund-processing systems. He also worked as a founding engineer at a veteran-owned AI startup now valued at over $25 million, and as a teaching assistant at the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering.

In his free time, Councilmember Prakriya enjoys skiing, chess, and playing guitar – his Beatles cover band even won battle of the bands at Redmond’s Derby Days in 2022!

Jessica Forsythe is an award-winning Creative Director and owner of a small graphic design studio that works primarily with clients who seek to better their community. Councilmember 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, Councilmember Forsythe 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, and branding and was the Art Director for the Seattle Symphony. She grew up volunteering before she even knew what it meant and has maintained that connection with community organizations throughout her life, no matter where she’s lived. Most notably, her decade-long involvement with Help Portrait International, for which she is the Founder of the Redmond, Washington Chapter. Councilmember Forsythe has also served on various nonprofit boards, including the League of Women Voters Seattle-King County Executive Board and as the c3 Treasurer.

Councilmember Forsythe enjoys hiking, running, cycling, kayaking, skiing, rowing, and rock climbing.

Boards/Committees: AWC Federal Priorities Committee, Eastrail Regional Advisory Committee, Eastside Transportation Partnership, Disability Board

In addition to her work on Council, Vanessa Kritzer serves as Executive Director of the Washington Association of Land Trusts, which represents over 30 environmental conservation groups across the state that work to protect and steward our beautiful lands and waterways. Before joining the Council, Councilmember Kritzer served on the City of Redmond’s Planning Commission. She brings experience from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Councilmember Kritzer spent years working in D.C. for environmental and international human rights organizations, including the League of Conservation Voters and the Latin America Working Group. She has also worked at Microsoft on smart city and healthcare technology that helps make communities healthier, safer, and more sustainable.

Councilmember Kritzer 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 has served on the boards of numerous nonprofits.

Councilmember Kritzer lives with her husband and two young kids in Education Hill. She also lived for years in Downtown Redmond and loves spending time with her family in both our urban centers and residential neighborhoods. An avid outdoor enthusiast, you’ll often see her walking around Redmond’s trails with her toddler in a hiking backpack in her spare time. And, if she’s not outside, she is probably indoors playing a strategic board game.

Boards/Committees: Community Facilities District Board of Supervisors, Eastside Transportation Partnership, OneRedmond Board of Directors, Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 8 Salmon Recovery Council, Lake Sammamish Kokanee Interlocal Agreement Management Committee, King Conservation District Advisory Committee

City Council Vice President

Angie Nuevacamina is a longtime Redmond resident. She is a veteran of the United States Navy, where she served as an aviation electrician, and studied philosophy and art history at Oakland University. Council Vice President Nuevacamina's professional experience includes working as a financial service professional, consulting small businesses, and previous public service experience serving on the City of Redmond Planning Commission.

Council Vice President Nuevacamina lives in Redmond with her family.

Boards/Committees: Presiding Officer of the City's Parks and Environmental Sustainability Committee, Cascade Water Alliance (CWA), Disability Board

Sayna Parsi was sworn in as a Redmond City Council Member on January 20, 2026. She previously served on Redmond’s Parks, Trails, and Recreation Commission, where she championed outdoor fitness amenities, sustainable park management, and equitable access to public spaces.

Councilmember Parsi serves on the board of the Washington Native Plant Society’s Central Puget Sound chapter and works with Eastside Audubon on conservation and environmental education, bringing an environmental lens to growth, infrastructure, and neighborhood livability. With professional experience across small businesses, nonprofits, and large corporations, she brings a broad, results-oriented perspective. Her focus is on housing affordability, tech privacy policy, transportation and mobility, community engagement, and inclusive, resilient growth for current and future residents.

City Council President

Melissa Stuart was elected to Redmond City Council in 2021 and quickly earned a Certificate of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities. In addition to representing Redmond on the above boards and committees, Council President Stuart serves on the board of Together Center in Downtown Redmond. She earned her Masters of Non-Profit Leadership from Seattle University and has more than a decade of experience as a philanthropic leader at Treehouse, Boys & Girls Clubs of King County, and Youth Eastside Services. Council President Stuart served in the U.S. Peace Corps as a Community & Organizational Development Advisor in Moldova. Prior to serving on the Council, she served on the board of Zero Waste Washington and the Redmond Library Board of Trustees.

Council President Stuart lives in the Overlake Village neighborhood with her husband and stepson.

Boards/Committees: Presiding Officer of the City's Planning and Public Works Committee, Community Facilities Districts Board of Supervisors, King County Growth Management Planning Council, Puget Sound Regional Council Growth Management Policy Board, Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee, Association of Washington Cities Legislative Priorities Committee, OneRedmond Government Affairs Committee