Leadership & Board of Directors

John Carlson is President of the Kemper Development Company (KDC), which developed, owns and runs The Bellevue Collection, the premier shopping, dining and entertainment venue in the Pacific Northwest. He had previously served as Vice President of Government Affairs for KDC beginning in 2021. 

Before joining KDC, John was a Planning Commissioner for the City of Bellevue from 2011 – 2019, a period when Bellevue overhauled its shorelines management plan and its downtown growth plan.

John is well known for his work in the news media, hosting a daily radio program on stations KVI and KOMO from 1993 until April 2025.  He also authors occasional op-eds for The Wall Street Journal and was formerly a news commentator on KIRO-TV (CBS), KOMO-TV (ABC) and KCTS (PBS).

In the 80’s and 90’s John was a co-founder and former President of the Washington Policy Center, a free market policy research center that has drawn acclaim from policy makers in both parties and from media figures across the political spectrum.  He also guided three statewide ballot measures into passage, including America’s first “Three Strikes” law.

John grew up in West Seattle, graduating from West Seattle High School and the University of Washington.  Since the mid-80’s he has lived in Bellevue, WA with wife Lisa and their two sons.  They attend Sacred Heart Parish.  John sits on the local boards of several civic organizations, including The Salvation Army, The Boy Scouts (Chief Seattle Council), and both the Seattle and Bellevue Police Foundations.  He relaxes by riding motorcycles (currently an Indian Chief Vintage), hiking and climbing mountains, including all five Washington volcanoes.