AWC Vice President and West Richland Mayor Pro Tem Fred Brink on balancing rapid growth with outdoor space.
Interview by Jennifer Krazit
You have quite an interesting background. What did you do before running for office?
After college, I was commissioned as an officer in the United States Navy and spent about six and a half years as a surface warfare officer. I left the Navy to join the FBI and ultimately was promoted to special agent in charge of the FBI for the State of Mississippi. Then, in 2009, I took a job at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) as the counterintelligence program manager, so that’s what brought my family to this area.
How did you and your family take to life in West Richland?
I have lived in about 13 states throughout my career, and we just love Washington. My family loves the climate, the diversity of geography, and, most of all, the people. We really have settled in here. My wife, Monika, works for the Richland School District as a secretary. Our two sons are grown now and are both in the military.
>Mayor Brink at Yakima River Gateway Park. (Photography by Kim Fetrow)
How much of an influence has PNNL had on bringing people to the region?
The lab is the single largest employer within the Tri-Cities and employs more than 6,000 individuals. The Hanford Site has a lot more people working at the site, but that’s through several contractors, so if you look at the largest single employer, it’s the lab. And, of course, the lab brings a lot of scientists, researchers, and others that do work at the laboratory in both national security, climate research, and other areas, so it’s a big part of our community.
What prompted you to run for public office?
I had been living in West Richland and was looking forward to retirement, but saw that maybe I had something to offer the city with my experience. I initially ran for council in 2015, but I joined late and didn’t make it through the primary. So I became more focused for the next election in 2017 and won a seat on the council. I’m now in my second stint as mayor pro tem. In addition to being a city councilmember, I am also an elected fire commissioner for Benton County Fire District 4.
West Richland is experiencing a great deal of growth. How is that being managed?
The population of West Richland has grown by more than 50% since I moved here. The city already offers an extremely balanced, family-oriented community. When I moved here, it was pretty much all single-family homes, but we now offer townhomes, multifamily homes, and apartments. The largest landowner in the city, the Tiegs family, has set aside more than 7,000 acres of land for development in West Richland. We are developing a master plan which will include residential, parks, pathways, light industrial, commercial, and so forth, to build a community that offers the services you need in your neighborhood, so people don’t have to drive to Kennewick or Pasco to get them. The city is looking at tremendous growth over the next several decades.
Mayor Brink on the periphery of his growing city. (Photography by Kim Fetrow)
Amid all that development, how is the city also prioritizing outdoor recreation?
Having outdoor recreation areas is essential to any city. People want to get out of their houses and enjoy the nice weather during the summer, spring, and fall. West Richland’s parks are one of the pride points of our city. We have miles and miles of pathways for walking and biking. We also have several community events, including being one of only three cities in Washington to have a Veterans Day parade that is sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. We also have the Red Mountain Event Center, which hosts races and family-friendly events. And of course, we have the Yakima River that flows through the city.
You’ve served on the AWC Board of Directors since 2022. Why did you decide to get involved with AWC?
I first attended Elected Officials Essentials in December 2017, before I even took office, and I was impressed by the quality of the presentations and discussions giving individuals insight into what they will do as councilmembers and making people aware of basics, like the Open Public Meetings Act. I then attended more AWC courses after I took office. The more I got involved, the more I found out how useful the AWC training was, and how valuable the collaboration opportunities are, along with the opportunities to learn from people who have been in a council role for much longer than I have.
How do you think AWC membership benefits your city?
It benefits us in many ways. The annual conference is something that really stands out. It’s three days of networking and learning from your peers and subject-matter experts. Membership also benefits the city with other services AWC provides. AWC provides research and information about salaries and what other cities are doing in the area helps us stay competitive in terms of hiring and retaining high-quality individuals.
What are your goals in your leadership role at AWC?
I want to make sure CEO Deanna Dawson and her staff have the support, information and feedback they need to continue to push AWC in a positive direction. We’re fortunate that all 281 cities and towns in Washington state are members. I want to retain that membership and work with Deanna and her staff to look at ways of expanding services and training to bring value to our communities.
