Involved with civic affairs upon his arrival in Edmonton, Bellamy would serve terms on the school board, and eventually city council, being first elected in 1895. He also would be elected to council again in 1904, 1907, 1911 and 1916. During his time on council, he was a supporter of municipal ownership. He also worked to change taxation policies to lessen the burden on the citizens of the city. He would stand as a candidate for mayor on three separate occasions, in 1906, 1908 and 1917, unsuccessful on each occasion. Upon his defeat in his final bid for mayor in 1917, he would retire from the civic politics scene.