Holly Zhang Announces Campaign for Bellevue City Council
BELLEVUE, Sunday May 12 – Bellevue businesswoman and entrepreneur Holly Zhang officially announced today – Mother’s Day – that she will be running for the Bellevue City Council. She will be seeking City Council Position 1, currently held by John Stokes, and she will be filing for ballot status on Monday morning.
Zhang, youthful and energetic, is very active in the local Chinese-American community, and has hosted numerous charity events with a focus on jewelry sales benefiting local hospitals. She owns and operates the Holly Zhang Pearl Gallery, a retail jewelry store, in The Shops at the Bravern in downtown Bellevue. Her business partner and husband, James Rivera, is a former Microsoft employee and they have a young daughter who will turn 2 in September. “Teaching good values to my daughter and ensuring a good future for all the children of Bellevue, are priorities for me,” said Zhang.
Like many other Bellevue residents, Holly Zhang is a living example of the American dream. Born and raised in a small farming village in northeast China, as a teenager Holly faced many dangers, risks, and challenges. She eventually came to the United States as a young woman, and got where she is today due to sheer grit, determination, perseverance and hard work!
In 2012 the Bellevue Reporter profiled Holly Zhang, calling her, “a modern day Cinderella” who, as a young girl in rural China, “had to tie cotton with rubber to her feet in the winter because she had no shoes” and “foraged in the mountains to have food to eat.”
“I believe my experience in business, combined with my views as an immigrant and a new mother, give me the right perspective to help navigate Bellevue’s growth and changes. My background as a Chinese immigrant – overcoming poverty and adversity – can be especially helpful as we work together to ensure the coming changes to our city enrich all who live here,” added Zhang. Holly is adept at achieving unity and consensus, and knows how important that consensus is for accomplishing positive change.
“Bellevue’s prosperity and growth depends on diversity and cooperation,” says Zhang, who lives in Northeast Bellevue. “If I am elected to the Bellevue City Council, my goal will be for the Council to adopt policies that have a positive impact on the quality of life for our families, children, and businesses”.
Holly’s personal interests include jewelry design, hiking, and teaching her little daughter good values. For more information about Holly Zhang’s campaign for the Bellevue City Council, go to VoteHollyZhang.com or call (425) 577-7253.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOLLY:
January 9, 2012: Bellevue Reporter Newspaper profile of Holly Zhang
February 10, 2016: Article about Holly Zhang on USChinaPress.com (in Chinese)
May 7, 2015 Seattle Chinese Times article about Holly Zhang
July 18, 2013: Holly Zhang in the Seattle Chinese Times newspaper (Seattle, in Chinese)
April 10, 2013: Holly Zhang Pearl Gallery in Seattle Met Shop/Talk