Views mixed on accusation

By Kate Reardon and Scott North

Herald Writers

MARYSVILLE — Residents here on Friday expressed mixed feelings about forgery allegations surrounding one of their newly elected council members, who could face felony charges.

Tom Grady, who beat incumbent NormaJean Dierck by 161 votes, is being investigated for falsifying financial records at his former job as manager of the Marysville Albertson’s store.

While some had no concerns, others said they felt "deceived" or "betrayed." And one council member-elect said he still believes Grady will do a fine job of serving the people of Marysville.

The Herald received a handful of calls on Friday from people who were concerned about the allegations but would not give their names for publication. One person said there may be some residents at Monday night’s council meeting hoping to recall Grady.

Grady is to be sworn into office in January.

Marc Edwards, a longtime Marysville resident, said he has run into Grady on occasion over the past 10 years at Mariners games, the grocery story or when Grady volunteered his time around town.

"It’s very much of a surprise," he said of the allegations. "He comes across as a stand-up guy."

Edwards said he’s not worried at all about Grady serving on the council.

"If I had gone and voted, I would have voted for him," he said, adding a busy day kept him from the polls on Nov. 6.

Everett police have for about seven months been quietly investigating allegations that Grady admitted forging records to hide the still-unexplained disappearance of more than $38,000 from the Marysville Albertson’s store, where he worked as a manager over the past 13 years.

The investigation began when Grady left his job in March after he was confronted by store officials and submitted a written apology, taking responsibility for what he described as a "cover-up," documents show.

The investigation became public record on Wednesday, when prosecutors announced they are giving Grady the opportunity to admit wrongdoing and repay the money under a special program for first-time, nonviolent offenders.

If Grady declines to participate, he will face prosecution for felony forgery, prosecutors say.

Grady’s attorney, Jon Zulauf of Seattle, on Wednesday said Grady ultimately will be cleared of suspicion regarding the missing money, and "fully intends" to serve his Marysville City Council term.

Legally, elected officials are required to vacate a position if convicted of a felony.

Prosecutors say they did not know about the investigation until Nov. 15, when Everett police sent them reports recommending Grady be charged with forgery and first-degree theft. Sheriff Rick Bart, who had endorsed Grady for council, said he, too, was unaware of the probe.

The allegations initially were investigated by Marysville police, who handed the investigation over to Everett detectives in April after Marysville officials decided there was a potential conflict of interest. When the investigation began, Grady served on the park board, and the city was buying food for the jail from Albertson’s.

Council member-elect Jon Nehring said he doesn’t believe the allegations will get in the way of Grady serving the people of Marysville.

"I feel every bit as confident in Tom as I have at any time that I have known him," Nehring said. "I think he’ll make a fine council member. We have a clear vision for the city that we campaigned on. We’ll move forward just as we were going to."

Nehring said he would not speculate on the outcome of the allegations.

"Anything regarding the allegations, I really have no comment on," he said.

Deven Bellingar, owner of a sports card shop in downtown Marysville, said he had gotten to know Grady while talking sports with him. Bellingar said he’ll have to wait for a conclusion before he knows what to make of it all.

In late August during the election season, letters were sent anonymously to Grady supporters accusing him of wrongdoing.

You can call Herald Writer Kate Reardon at 425-339-3455

or send e-mail to reardon@heraldnet.com.