Brier council candidates disagree on gardens for city
Published 12:01 am Friday, October 21, 2011
BRIER — Voters in this south Snohomish County city will decide one contested race on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Councilman-at-large Dennis Nick is facing civil-environmental engineer Eric Teegarden, who first filed to run for a two-year, at-large position but withdrew and re-filed for the open four-
year seat that Nick, too, is seeking.
Teegarden says that he didn’t make the change to oppose Nick but because he didn’t want to oppose John Joplin, who now is running unopposed for the two-year at-large position Nick has held.
Nick won election to the council in 2005 but lost a re-election bid in 2009 by two votes to Mike Gallagher after a mandatory hand recount. He returned to the council in 2010 when he was appointed to replace Councilwoman at-large Ona Gem, who had resigned for Navy duty.
Teegarden lost a bid for a position on the Snohomish County Public Utility District commission in 2006.
Teegarden says that he wants to see Brier build more sidewalks and bicycle lanes as a way to get people out of cars. He also wants to develop community gardens for people to grow and exchange vegetables.
Nick said that community gardens aren’t necessary because Brier’s required minimum lot size of a quarter acre per house means that residents have plenty of room for gardens.
Nick said that he wants to continue to develop the city’s extensive park system, maintain the city’s semi-rural character and keep the city’s sound fiscal condition.
Council members Kerin Steele and Dale Kaemingk are running unopposed.
Brier City Council, Position 6
Dennis Nick
Age: 53
Occupation: Maintenance supervisor, Merrill Gardens At The Creekside
Website: www.dennisnick.com
Priorities: Maintain a balanced budget with quality public services; retain large lot sizes and rural character; continue to enhance and develop city parks.
Eric Teegarden
Age: 42
Occupation: Civil/environmental engineer, solar power systems engineer and consultant
Website: None
Priorities: Preserve the best elements of Brier’s character including open spaces, horse paths, parks, a semi-rural environment while growing and diversifying the local economy.
