Community Government

Pierce County Charter Review 2 | Small business owner vs. nurse practitioner

Gary Parker and Brenda Lykins traveled different routes to community service.

Parker, often through his restaurant BBQ2U, contributes funding and entertainment to practically anybody with a good cause. Neonatal nurse practitioner Lykins has cared for critically ill infants for 35 years and served on the Gig Harbor City Council.

Voters will weigh their attributes in choosing a representative on the Pierce County Charter Review Commission.

Charter reviewed every decade

Voters established the charter as Pierce County’s governing document in 1980. It defines roles of the county executive, county council and other elected officials; outlines the county’s authority, including budgeting and law-making; establishes election procedures, including term length; and provides for public participation and transparency.

Every 10 years, voters elect a 21-person charter review commission comprising three members from each of the county’s seven council districts to evaluate the document and propose amendments. After considering public input, the board votes on each change. A majority is required for approval.

Voters have final say

Approved amendments are submitted to the Pierce County Council, which places them on the ballot for a public vote. If a simple majority supports the amendments, they are adopted.

Last time, in 2016, the commission proposed five amendments and voters passed three of them.

Parker and Lykins are vying for District 7’s Position 2. They finished as the top two in a three-way primary election with Lykins receiving 57.8% of the vote and Parker 35.1%.

Brenda Lykins Courtesy photo

Lykins, 60, had no explanation for her impressive primary showing other than all the connections she’s made over the past 45 years. She grew up in Lakewood and recently lived in Gig Harbor, where she was elected to the City Council in November 2021 with a possibly indicative 73% of the vote.

The council chose her as the interim acting mayor, or mayor pro tempore, when Tracie Markley stepped down in November 2024 for family health issues. Lykins herself resigned in January to move from Gig Harbor to North Tacoma for family care reasons.

“I approach every election having no idea (how it stacks up) and trying to be my authentic self and connect with as many people as I can,” she said. “I think maybe having a long history here, building connections over many, many, many years possibly helped me, but honestly I have no idea.”

Searching for new political role

Lykins has long been interested in local politics. After moving to Tacoma this year, she was researching boards and commissions where she might be of help. Friends, including a couple who had served on previous charter review commissions, told her the new board was up for election. It felt like a fit.

“I really like to dive into policy,” she said. “I did research, looked at how it affects people’s lives, how it affects making government efficient, the checks and balances within the roles, the accountability. It truly is a living, working document by the people for the people.”

Lykins said she’d enjoy working with varied backgrounds that characterize the diverse county.

“Sometimes we live in our bubbles and don’t communicate with each other,” she said. “The opportunity to hear all sides of the issue and go into it with an open mind is something I enjoy doing. It would be an honor to serve the community, and I think it would be really fascinating.”

Lykins earned a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s in neonatology nurse practitioner from the University of Washington. She’s a founder of the award-winning Southwest Washington Perinatal/Neonatal Education program.

Parker boasts technical background

Parker, 63, is known around Gig Harbor as the barbecue guy and philanthropist. Beneath that image is a technological background. The Texan earned a bachelor’s degree in electronic physics from Pace University in Austin. He began his career as an IBM design engineer before moving to Intel in DuPont where he became a senior manager overseeing global engineering operations and complex product delivery.

In his role overseeing complex topics and employees spread around the world, he developed “Big Think.”

“The charter is no different,” he said. “You can’t be short-sighted. You need people in a balanced way looking at its purity. What is the charter trying to achieve and is it achieving it? That is the ultimate question.

“I think the charter review board needs businesspeople who are balanced thinkers to analyze the current charter, look at it from the standpoint of how do we tune it up for today’s world. That’s the biggest thing.”

Parker retired seven years ago and opened the restaurant where he hosts Tuesday Bingo for seniors, a monthly painting class and introduces local authors to the public, all for free. Nearly every week, BBQ2U holds a fundraiser in which generally a school group receives a share of that week’s proceeds.

Twice named citizen of the year

For those and other community giving, Parker was named 2024 citizen of the year by the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce and South Sound Magazine. The chamber then honored BBQ2U in 2025 as its business of the year.

“The big thing people need to know is I have a huge community orientation,” he said.

Gary Parker Courtesy photo Photo courtesy of BBQ2U

Parker isn’t a politician. He’s a problem solver, business owner and somebody who shows up when there’s a need, he wrote in the voters’ pamphlet. He did, however, get caught up in some politics when he was criticized in a letter to the editor for donating to conservative Jesse Young and the Republican Party that delivered funds to Young.

Supporters rallied around Parker, some criticizing the paper for publishing the letter. Parker responded that he’s a moderate conservative who has contributed to people of many political persuasions, as long as they’re committed to making the community better.

Listen, lead and deliver

Parker stated in the voter’s pamphlet that he’s running for the commission because he cares about the community and wants to ensure the county’s foundational document reflects the people’s values. He has learned from 30 years leading engineering teams and running BBQ2U to listen well, lead with integrity and deliver real results.

“I’m not coming in with an agenda. I’m coming in to ask smart questions, listen to my neighbors and help make sure this document stands up for everyone in Pierce County,” he wrote.

Parker has raised $3,830 in contributions and lent himself $5,000, according to the state Public Disclosure Commission. Lykins does not have to file contribution reports because she opted for mini-reporting in which she can’t raise and spend more than $7,000 and must commit to receive no more than $500 from any one contributor.

Question & answer

Gig Harbor Now asked both candidates for written responses to five questions regarding the charter review board. Their responses are printed verbatim below:

1. What specific changes or updates do you believe are most needed for the Pierce County Charter, and what evidence or public input supports your view?

Brenda Lykins

I approach the Charter Review with an open perspective. I plan to thoughtfully listen and question all ideas on how the charter can be improved from county staff, fellow commission members, and community members.

Brenda Lykins

The County Charter is the constitution of Pierce County for how the county government operates. It defines the executive, legislative, and judicial roles and balances to those powers. The commission decides which amendments will be brought forth to all voters in Pierce County in Fall 2026. Prior Charter Commissions have tackled issues such as term limits, ranked-choice voting, and which offices are elected or appointed.

I have heard from the community throughout the campaign discussion about term limits and whether the Sherrif should be an elected or appointed position. Frustration with an elected official’s behavior or government process can be a catalyst to highlight possible changes to be discussed. It’s however critically important to maintain an objective view when suggesting any changes.

I would be supportive of changes that promote accountability, efficiency, and responsiveness to the community while ensuring transparency and process integrity. I want to ensure that any amendments to the charter brought to the voters for consideration have been well vetted with sound policy research. The Charter sets the course for the County for the next decade, regardless of political majorities or personnel changes.

Parker

Gary Parker

I don’t come into this process with an agenda to rewrite the charter. Rather, my concern is that the public can see when the system stops working the way it should. Right now, that’s happening in plain sight. The ongoing conflict between the Sheriff, the Prosecutor, and the County Executive has turned into a public tug-of-war over who controls what. That tells me our charter isn’t clear enough about roles, authority, and accountability inside county government. A good charter prevents those fights buy setting clear boundaries so people can do their jobs and the public doesn’t have to watch lawsuits between their own elected officials. That’s where review matters most — setting clear roles so people can do their jobs and the public can trust the results.

2. How will you ensure your personal or political views don’t override the bipartisan process of reviewing the charter?

Parker

I’m under no illusion about the politics in this race. There are people running who want to use the charter to advance an agenda. Some to pull more power under appointed control while others want to push for less oversight and faster development. I understand both impulses. But the charter doesn’t belong to either side, it belongs to the citizens of Pierce County. Further, when we start changing the rules of who gets to elect their leaders, or who controls public decisions, we’re talking about the foundation of democracy at the local level. That deserves open debate and full sunlight, not backroom politics or social media slogans. My commitment is simple: tell the truth, even when it’s inconvenient. Listen to everyone, even when I disagree. And keep this process transparent enough that citizens can see exactly what’s being discussed, who’s pushing it, and why. That’s how you keep trust. Not by pretending partisanship doesn’t exist, but by refusing to let it write the rules for everyone else.

Lykins

I am a respectful collaborative communicator and approach the issues with curiosity and a desire to find common ground. I enjoy lively debate and bringing people together to find consensus. I am a pragmatic problem solver and understand the importance of keeping in mind how any changes would affect residents’ everyday lives. Additionally, I am comfortable respecting an outcome I did not support if I trust in the process used to reach consensus.

A healthy democracy encourages civil discourse on all sides of the issues.

3. What experience do you bring that will help the commission evaluate complex issues and build consensus among its 21 members?

Lykins

My career has been committed to improving the lives of the people I serve. I have lived in Pierce County for over 45 years and have called both Gig Harbor and now North Tacoma home in District 7. As an elected Gig Harbor City Councilmember, Mayor Pro Tem of Gig Harbor and a Pierce County Regional Council member, I have worked across jurisdictions and viewpoints to solve problems.

My collaborative, respectful leadership style will fit well with the diverse voices on the Charter Review Commission. While serving on City Council, I proposed using the City’s share of the state opiate settlement funds to create the Housing, Health and Human Services position at the City of Gig Harbor. This valued position coordinates community outreach and services for our most vulnerable populations and provides support to our area first responders.

My collaborative approach has helped me earn several community endorsements, including Pierce County Council Member Robyn Denson and Pierce County Executive Ryan Mello, among others.

Parker

I’ve spent more than three decades leading teams, solving problems, and bringing people together to get real results. At Intel, I managed global engineering projects, with big budgets, tight deadlines, and diverse teams that had to pull in the same direction. That experience taught me how to listen, stay organized, and keep complex work moving without losing sight of people. Here at home, running BBQ2U and serving through Rotary and the Chamber has deepened that lesson. I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about showing up, building trust, and helping others succeed. Whether it’s a school fundraiser, a senior event, or a local business partnership, I believe in community first and teamwork always. On the commission, I’ll bring that same approach, steady, disciplined, and focused on results. We can tackle hard issues, find common ground, and deliver a charter review that truly serves Pierce County’s citizens.

4. What is your strategy for completing a review of the entire charter and proposing meaningful amendments within the 6-month timeframe?

Parker

I’ve managed complex projects my whole career, and one thing never changes — if you start without a plan, you finish with excuses. The first step is structure: a clear calendar, defined goals, and agreed-upon priorities. Once that’s in place, communication keeps everything on track. I also want to make transparency a working rule, not just a slogan. Citizens should always know what we’re doing, when we’re meeting, and how decisions are made. That kind of openness keeps everyone honest and builds public confidence in the outcome. Six months is tight, but it’s doable if we stay disciplined, respect each other’s time, and focus on getting it right instead of getting it loud. That’s how I’ve led before, and it’s how I’ll lead here.

Lykins

I would work with the fellow commission members in creating a plan and process with expert staff input with a timeline for review in the first meetings to establish a clear and organized framework for timely completion. I believe the commission will best serve our communities by focusing on broad high-level policy discussion, leaving more detailed changes that can sometimes slow down the process to the existing County Council legislative process. Although commission members serve without a salary, the County staff time is a valuable resource and the Commission should be mindful of the best use of time, as this is our tax dollars at work.

5. How do you plan to engage and educate the public about proposed charter amendments and solicit feedback before they’re placed on the ballot?

Lykins

Public input regarding any Charter Review amendments is critical to support the integrity of the process. It is important to coordinate with our District 7 local jurisdictions, officials and community organizations to help distribute information and solicit feedback. I would work to ensure there is a communication strategy in place as part of the framework of the commission. I am also supportive of meetings throughout the county districts to encourage public input. It’s a living document, and it should represent the voices of the constituents.

Parker

Most people are worn out by politics, and I don’t blame them. If we want their attention, we need to make it easy to understand what’s on the ballot and why it matters. That’s why I want treat public education as a service. Every proposed change should be explained in three simple ways: a one-minute summary in plain language, a one-page explainer showing what changes and why, and the full legal text for those who want to dig in. Each will list the pros and cons side-by-side—no spin, just facts. These materials should be everywhere people already are: online, in libraries, at coffee shops, with QR codes and short audio versions so anyone can access them in minutes. If we do that, voters won’t have to wade through noise. They’ll know what’s being asked of them, in clear English, and they’ll see that their voices actually shaped the outcome. That’s how you turn fatigue into faith.