He worked his way up from city council member, through the prefectural council to becoming a member of the national diet.
'He worked his way up' は「彼は出世の階段を上がって行った」という意味です。
このシチュエーションでふさわしいと思います。
市議会議員 = City council member
県議会議員 = Perfectural council member
国会議員 = National Diet member
オランダ 
