Sunnyside Government
City Council
Regular City Council Meetings
6:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Mondays
Law & Justice Center
401 Homer Street, Sunnyside
Note - Per SMC 2.08, the City Council does not meet the 4th Monday in July, the 2nd Monday in August, and the 4th Monday in December.
The City operates under the Council/Manager form of government with a seven member Council elected to four year terms. The Council adopts ordinances, sets the annual budget and directs the city through the City Manager.
The Mayor serves a two year term and is elected to the position by the Council. The City Council positions are non-partisan and Council members are elected to their respective positions by all of the voters within the City at the General Election. The members of the City Council serve part-time and do not maintain office hours at City Hall but can be reached by clicking the email link following their bio.
Mayor Pablo Garcia
Mayor Pablo Garcia was appointed to the City Council on August 4, 2004 to fill an unexpired term and was elected in November 2007. He was selected by the City Council to serve as Mayor in 2008.
Mayor Garcia served on the Sunnyside Planning Commission for four and half years before being appointed to the City Council. He currently serves as the President of the Sunnyside Industrial Development Corporation and is also part of the City/School Gang Committee. Mayor Garcia was awarded the Certificate of Municipal Leadership by the Association of Washington Cities in 2008.
His current term expires December 31, 2011.
Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Epps
Mayor Pro Tem Bruce Epps was elected to the City Council in November 2005 and is serving his first term. He currently serves as the Representative to the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments and on the City's Airport Committee.
Mayor Pro Tem Epps is a life-long volunteer and is currently serving on the temple board of the Masonic Lodge. He sat on the 2010 visioning committee, was a Parks and Recreation coach for 8 years, and he chaired the committee to hire new City Managers twice.
His current term expires December 31, 2009.
Councilor Bill Gant
Councilor Bill Gant has served on the City Council since 2005.
He was born and raised in Sunnyside, and later raised four children with his wife Juanita here. He has a B.A. in Education and earned his M.B.A. from Eastern Washington University in 1970. After 30 years of dedicated service to the Sunnyside School District, Councilor Gant retired as Sunnyside High School principal in 1994. Councilor Gant has served as the Executive Secretary to the Interscholastic Activities Association since 1994.
His current term expires December 31, 2009.
Councilor Tom Gehlen
Councilor Tom Gehlen was elected to the City Council in November 2007 and is serving his first term.
His current term expires December 31, 2011.
Councilor Theresa Hancock
Councilor Theresa Hancock was appointed to the City Council on June 13, 2005 to fill an unexpired term. Prior to her appointment to the City Council, she served on the Sunnyside Planning Commission working on various annexations, the update of the Comprehensive Plan, and the proposed sign ordinance. Councilor Hancock is the currently serving as the Alternate Representative to the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments and Chair for the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee. Council member Hancock was awarded the Certificate of Municipal Leadership from the Association of Washington Cities in 2008.
Her current term expires December 31, 2009.
Councilor Jim Restucci
Councilor James (Jim) A. Restucci was elected to the Sunnyside City Council in 2003 and is currently serving his second term. He served as Mayor Pro Tem from 2006 to 2008.
Councilor Restucci currently serves as the chairman of the City's Airport Committee; is vice president of the Sunnyside Economic Development Association and is past president and current secretary of the board of directors of the Sunnyside Industrial Development Corporation.
Councilor Restucci is vice chairman of the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments and the MPO/RTPO Executive Committee; is a member of the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Legislative Committee, and in 2006 was awarded the AWC Certificate of Municipal Leadership. Councilor Restucci represents the State of Washington on the National League of Cities Information Technology and Communications Policy & Advocacy Committee and was appointed by Governor Gregoire as a Washington State Notary in 2007.
Councilor Restucci is an 18 year veteran of the U.S. Army and Washington Army National Guard and is a recipient of the State of Washington Guardsman's Medal (for Heroism). He holds a masters degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Connecticut - School of Engineering and is currently researching his doctoral thesis.
In his professional life Councilor Restucci is the CEO & Chief Technology Officer of Axcess Internet Services, Inc.® - he is married to DeLeesa Restucci (Hochhalter) and they have two sons, Dylan and Alex.
His current term expires December 31, 2011
Councilor Carol Stone
Councilor Carol Stone was elected to the City Council and began serving on November 14, 2005. On January 9, 2006, she was appointed by City Council to serve on the City's Airport Committee. She is a lifelong volunteer and encourages everyone to become involved in their community.
Her current term expires December 31, 2009.
