Council votes to wait on swearing in man now facing charges
By Kate Reardon and Jim Haley
Herald Writers
MARYVILLE — Amid a firestorm of public protest concerning a controversial city councilman-elect, the Marysville City Council on Monday night voted to postpone swearing in new council members.
Tom Grady, who won a nip-and-tuck election in November and now stands to be prosecuted for forgery, was the object of the hubbub that occurred in a packed city council chambers.
Grady, 46, has been under investigation since March for allegedly forging records to hide the disappearance of more than $38,000 from the Marysville Albertson’s store, which he managed for 13 years. The investigation was disclosed by prosecutors after the election.
Earlier Monday, Snohomish County Prosecutor Jim Krider confirmed that Grady will be charged with a felony.
Traditionally, new city council members have taken the oath early in January, but Mayor Dave Weiser said he recently became acquainted with a law change that allowed a city to swear them in at the last meeting in December before taking office in January.
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Administering the oath was put on Monday’s agenda at the last minute on Friday, but many people who filled the council chambers objected.
The council voted 4-3 to not go through with the ceremony at the public meeting. Instead, the four council members elected in November will be sworn in sometime after Dec. 22.
Voting to postpone the oath were council members Suzanne Smith, Jim Brennick, John Soriano and NormaJean Dierck, who was beaten by Grady by just 161 votes.
At various points during the meeting, the crowd estimated at about 90 booed or clapped for speakers who aired their views during the public comment part of the agenda.
Marysville resident Matt Gordon said Grady cheated the voters by not disclosing the forgery investigation before the Nov. 6 election.
"By failing to reveal such important information he was failing to tell the truth," Gordon said. The situation "raises some questions as to his moral character and honesty."
Marysville-area resident Jeri Short lambasted Mayor Weiser and others who might have known about the investigation beforehand and said nothing.
"I’m embarrassed and ashamed," Short said. "I’m requesting that Marysville clean house."
Rocky Hoaglund called for a postponement of administering the oath of office, especially since the city traditionally doesn’t swear in new council members until January.
"I can see no compelling reason to set aside a tradition," he said. "Please postpone it."
One speaker, Eric Swobody, a Marysville firefighter, said the people should "let the justice system run its course and not judge before then. The people did speak and Tom did win."
Grady, who was escorted out of the emotion-packed council chambers by police, refused to comment.
Councilwoman-elect Donna Wright said she was disappointed the ceremony was postponed because taking the oath Monday fit better in her schedule.
During a council debate, councilwoman Smith said she felt swearing in the new council members now "was thrown in our faces," and the council had not discussed it.
Councilman Mike Leighan, who voted to hold the ceremony Monday, said the emotionally charged council meeting was "like the ‘Grinch that Stole Christmas’" for the winners of the election.
Councilman Soriano added that he’s bothered by the issues surrounding Grady.
"I’ve lost sleep over it, and I’ve thought about it a hundred different ways. I’m just not happy with what we have here," Soriano said.
You can call Herald Writer Kate Reardon at 425-339-3455
or send e-mail to reardon@heraldnet.com.
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