Former 5th District state representative challenger Jason Ritchie announced Thursday his candidacy for Sammamish City Council.

In a press release, Ritchie stated, “It’s time for new leadership” on the council.

“I know my community and am passionate about public service,” Ritchie said in the release. “Sammamish is a vibrant and growing city and I want to be part of managing that growth to ensure that we retain our identity. The decisions the council will be facing over the next four years are critically important to the way our community will grow over the coming decades. As a husband, father and small business owner, I want to help guide our future.”

Last November, Ritchie turned out 48 percent of the vote in the 5th District House of Representatives Position 1 race against Republican Jay Rodne.

Ritchie set out his priorities for Sammamish to include “balancing residential and commercial growth and development while maintaining the unique character of neighborhoods.” He aims to create improved infrastructure to support growth and also to work with regional partners on transportation. He also listed as priorities protecting the environment and maintaining fiscal accountability and transparency of the City Council.

Ritchie owns a Sammamish-based small business geared toward commercial work for people with physical challenges. He has been married to his wife, Amy, for 19 years. Together, they have two sons. Ritchie also serves on the state’s Independent Living Council, appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee in 2015. He has degrees in history and political science from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in history from Eastern Michigan University.