George Grieb wasn’t necessarily destined to wear a blue collar to work every day.

Growing up in Omaha, Neb., his dad was a banker who “had zero handyman skills.” But while Grieb was at Kansas University in the mid-1980s studying business, he took a part-time job as an electrician.

He liked it so well he ended his college career without a degree, believing he could live comfortably in Lawrence anyway.

“My mentor in the electrician business moved here from Mankato, Kansas, had two kids and bought a nice affordable house in Lawrence,” Grieb said. “Over the last 14 years or so, he moved up the housing ladder. He accumulated wealth in Lawrence by being an electrician.

“Let me tell you, that is very, very hard to do today in Lawrence.”

That issue, as much as any, pushed Grieb into a run for the Lawrence City Commission. Grieb is one of nine candidates vying for three at-large seats on the commission.

Since 1999, Grieb has been the owner of Lawrence-based Lynn Electric. His company’s personnel records show that 14 of the company’s 28 employees live outside Douglas County.

“This community really has a lack of work-force housing,” Grieb said. “That is the issue that is personal to me in this campaign.”

He said his company often had to take on extra expenses to keep employees — such as providing them a company vehicle to commute in — because of the lack of affordable housing.

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“It is one of those issues where there has been a lot of talk but no action,” Grieb said. “I think it is because the proper people aren’t getting to the table.”

Grieb said he wanted to convene a group of city and county officials, developers, neighborhood representatives and other stockholders to have a serious discussion about housing strategy.

“But it is pretty simple,” Grieb said. “The more supply there is, the more reasonably priced it is going to be. I’m just afraid that if we don’t take care of this work-force housing issue now, it isn’t going to matter in 15 years because the people we’re trying to reach just won’t be here.”

In other issues, Grieb said:

• The smoking-ban issue should be settled by a public vote. “I believe in an agenda set by all the people after careful consideration of all the facts. This is an issue that deserves a public vote.”
• Horizon 2020, the city’s comprehensive plan, was a “broken document.” He said he was concerned that the city’s planning process “allowed the rules of the game to change often.”

Address: 209 Providence RoadAge: 37Religion: CatholicFamily: Married, two childrenEducation: Studied business at Kansas UniversityOccupation: Owner of Lynn ElectricPrevious political experience: First run for political office

• Current city commissioners frequently misunderstood the principles behind the Smart Growth movement. “Smart Growth principles are good when actually used and implemented. Our commission, however, does not truly implement Smart Growth principles. Far too often, it is a roadblock to projects — most of which have met with local planning guidelines.”
• He supported improvements to the Lawrence Public Library, as long as they fall within a $12 million to $15 million price tag. Grieb said a $25 million project, which has been mentioned, would add too much debt to the city’s books.
• He personally did not want a Wal-Mart at Sixth Street and Wakarusa Drive. But Grieb said he was not convinced that the city’s zoning and development codes prohibited a Wal-Mart at the location. “Perhaps our planning document is not clear, or the city is trying hard to please special interest groups.”

Grieb’s campaign is his first run for political office, but he said his experience as a small business owner had given him valuable skills now lacking on the commission.

“As a small-business owner, every week you have to make sure there is enough money to cover payroll,” Grieb said. “There are some weeks when you get to the office on Monday and you don’t have enough money to meet payroll on Friday. You have to go out and collect the money you are owed or earn more money.

“You really have an understanding of the value of a dollar and how hard it is to earn a dollar. You just have a different perspective about spending money.”