Political newcomer challenges Brier mayor

BRIER — Bob Colinas, seeking a third term as mayor of Brier, is challenged in his re-election bid by Adam Gregorich, a manager for AT&T Cellular.

Colinas, 58, is the superintendent of the parks division at the city of Lynnwood.

Before he was elected mayor in 2005, Colinas served two terms on the city council and one term on the Brier Planning Commission.

Colinas, a Mountlake Terrace High School graduate, has lived in Brier since 1960, according to the city’s website. He is married with two children.

“I have seen Brier deal with dysfunctional mayors and councils in my life living here,” he said. “This is one of the reasons I became involved in my community. Using my municipal experience I feel I have stabilized our city from eight years ago. During my administration I have placed and held a very qualified group of city staff.”

Gregorich, 40, has worked at AT&T — formerly McCaw — for 20 years and lived in Brier for a decade, he said. He is a manager for AT&T’s advanced technical support organization. He is married with two twins who will turn 8 on Election Day, he said.

“While I don’t have any prior political experience, I also don’t have any political ambitions,” Gregorich said. “I’m running for mayor because I feel that the elected government needs to be more transparent and accountable to our citizens.”

For example, he would like to see full transcripts or audio files of each public meeting posted on the city’s website as opposed to the abridged ones that are currently used, he said.

The four members of the City Council up for re-election are each running unopposed: Marc Olson, Martin Krienke, Mike Gallagher and John Joplin.

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.