Adam Brauch recalls his feelings upon first driving through Main Street, Bothell.
“It reminds me of the little town of Danville, Calif., where I grew up,” he says.
Adam always looks forward to the Fourth of July parade, which adds to cherished memories of his boyhood town.
Adam and his wife, Kirstin, experienced first hand the helpfulness of this small-town atmosphere. While rushing to the hospital on a cold April morning, their baby had a different idea on where she’d be born … on the side of the road, 35th Avenue Southeast, north of Bothell! With the guidance of the 911 operator and the help of EMTs who arrived two minutes later, Adam says he’ll never forget the experience and will always remember Firehouse 72.
This was the Brauchs kind of town and it was time to become involved.
Adam’s first introduction to city government and the Bothell City Council came in July 2006, when he asked the council for sidewalks on East Riverside Drive. He noted that the street is narrow, cars speed and children find it tricky to exit the school bus, with no shoulder next to a deep ditch.
Adam and his neighbors soon established “Friends of East Riverside Drive” and adopted the road through the Adopt-a-Street program. Four times a year, they walk the mile stretch from Interstate 405 to the Northshore Senior Center, cleaning up trash.
“My son is always amazed at what people throw out the window,” says Adam.
No new sidewalks have emerged from Adam’s first encounter with City Hall; however, drainage in his neighborhood has improved.
Adam’s family has experienced a couple of floods, once losing a back room behind their garage. Again, in December 2007, his entire flooring and most of the dry wall was ruined from the rushing, high water, to the point where they had to find an apartment for three months while repairs were made.
“There was a culvert across the street from us that was poorly designed and easily clogged,” says Adam.
That, coupled with development on Norway Hill, contributed to the increased water runoff and the flooding of Adam’s neighborhood.
Friends and family offered their caring support, and, as Adam says, “The experience has made me want to give to, and participate more in our community.”
He adds, “We try to be especially generous when others fall on hard times.”
The flood added to Adam’s and Kirstin’s involvement in Bothell government. Kirstin was appointed to the Park and Recreation Board, advocating for parks in Bothell, and Adam received much experience by observing and participating in council meetings regarding East Riverside Drive.
Adam filed with King County Elections to run for City Council to bring a “positive, community-based voice to the table.” Due to lack of sizable campaign cash, Adam withdrew from the race, but never from his interest in making Bothell a better place.
“We are going to continue with our requests for sidewalks and pedestrian safety. I’d like to reach out and be a voice for other neighborhoods who have similar issues,” says Adam.
He’s also creating a Web site called VoteBothell.com, to assist voters in getting to know all of the candidates “in their own words.”
Adam is a counselor at Mariner High in Mukilteo and Kirstin teaches biology at Mukilteo’s Aces High.
Bothell’s lucky the Brauchs took up residence here.
Suzanne G. Beyer is a Bothell resident.
