‘No nonsense’ Richland councilman resigns
A Richland councilman left his position because of a recently discovered medical condition.
Brad Anderson, who recently won a third term, announced his resignation Tuesday, saying that after a recent visit with the doctor he learned he needed to “slow down and make some changes.”
“The positive is that my condition was caught early on and is very correctable through lifestyle changes,” Anderson said in a letter read by Mayor Ryan Lukson. “While this is manageable and correctable, it is just the one extra weight that has tipped the scales in favor of my exit from community service.”
Anderson did not add any details about what the condition was that required him to step away from the position.
The councilman thanked his family, friends and voters that allowed him to serve, along with all of the members of council and city employees.
“I feel satisfied with what I have accomplished and have been a part of in my last nine years. There have been way more successes than failures,” he said. “These are strange times that we are living in, but I’m sure that we will come out of it OK.”
Anderson, a Richland native, won his spot on Richland City Council in 2011. He ran unopposed on 2015, and defeated Shir Regev in 2019. This came after serving on the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee.
He described himself as having a different and unpolished viewpoint, and he wanted to “provide a no nonsense, level-headed, logical approach that would not be beholden to any particular group.”
After graduating from Richland High School, Anderson went to Spokane Falls Community College and Washington State University. For the past 16 years, he’s worked in construction, and is a manager at a local contracting company.
He is married with three children.
He volunteered as part of the Richland Jaycees, the Garden Park Recreation Club, the Richland High School PTSA and the Knights of Columbus.
Lukson and the three councilmembers at the meeting said they were sorry to see him go.
“I don’t think anyone loves Richland more than Brad,” Lukson said. “I always appreciated his down-to-earth approach and maybe head out and get a beer when things open up.”
Councilwoman Sandra Kent hoped he wouldn’t give up on his other volunteer work, and she always found his opinions insightful and valuable even if they didn’t agree.
“Brad has always been an independent thinker, and has always done a good job representing values for the city that he loves,” Councilman Terry Christensen said.
Lukson said they would start the process of picking a replacement soon.