Sunnyside, WA — October 22, 2025 — The City of Sunnyside’s controversial investigation into former City Manager Mike Gonzalez is drawing widespread backlash from residents and local leaders, with many calling it a “sham,” “a cover-up,” and “a political vendetta” that cost taxpayers more than $100,000.

Council Candidate Ramon Chavez Blasts the Report

Ramon Chavez, candidate for Sunnyside City Council District 4, publicly condemned the report in a viral Facebook post Wednesday night. His message, posted on his campaign page, accused the City Council of wasting taxpayer dollars and allowing politics to override truth.

Ramon Chavez, running in District 4

“So, I don’t post much, but I definitely had to say something about this,” Chavez wrote. “As I sit in my office reading the report filled with so many redactions, I can’t help but shake my head. To think this cost the City of Sunnyside over $100,000 is unbelievable.”

“This whole thing looks like a vendetta against Mike, plain and simple. There is absolutely nothing in that report that supports this kind of spending or action. Now it’s clear why they were so scared to release the report — they knew the community backlash was coming.”

Investigation Compromised by Hancock’s Contact with Investigator

The 29 page investigative report confirms that Councilmember Theresa Hancock reached out to investigator Thaddeus O’Sullivan multiple times and was told to stop. The report states this contact “tested the boundaries of impartiality” and undermined the independence of the process.

Attorney Shannon McMinimee, who was on the Facebook thread, called the investigation “a hot mess,” saying it violated standard conflict-of-interest protocol. “There should have been two separate investigations,” she wrote. “One into the City Manager and another into the councilmember. The City either terminated Gonzalez without cause, or it completed an investigation that exonerated him and has yet to release it.” McMinimee also called out Hancock’s potential violation of sharing attorney-client privilege in an open forum.

Public Outrage: “A Sham Investigation”

Online reaction from Sunnyside residents has been swift and overwhelmingly critical. Many described the process as a waste of taxpayer money and a cover-up for political motives.

“Sunnyside needs to get rid of Ms. Hancock,” one commenter wrote. “It was a sham investigation — $12,000 paid to the investigator, two City Managers paid over $100,000,” said another. “Basically, they found nothing,” another added.

Gonzalez: “I Will Be Vindicated”

Former City Manager Mike Gonzalez said the community’s reaction reflects what he has maintained all along.

“I am not surprised by how this report is being received. I’ve said all along I will be vindicated,” said Gonzalez. “I ran a clean city, and we were making progress. The people of Sunnyside are smart,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez emphasized that the report ignored key evidence and that the process was corrupted by interference. “When the person being investigated contacts the investigator, it undermines the entire process,” he said. “This wasn’t about facts — it was about politics. And now the public can see that for themselves.”

A Community Ready for Change

Chavez ended his post by challenging city leaders to reflect on their decisions: “If you voted to oust Mike, I hope you realize you followed others instead of thinking for yourself,” Chavez wrote. “You allowed yourself to be influenced — and honestly, shame on you.”

With public frustration growing, calls for transparency and accountability are spreading through Sunnyside. As one commenter summed it up: “They found nothing. And the people of Sunnyside know it.”

City Council Candidate Tom Dolan’s Troubling Ties to Theresa Hancock

Where We Go From Here?

The more residents learn about the connections between Theresa Hancock, Tom Dolan, and Vicki Ripley, the clearer it becomes that Sunnyside’s so-called investigation was never about accountability — it was about control. What began as a taxpayer-funded inquiry into City Hall operations has instead exposed a deeper web of political favoritism, backroom alliances, and personal vendettas that have drained both the city’s coffers and its trust.

Former City Manager Mike Gonzalez says the public reaction validates what he has said from day one.

“This was never about wrongdoing — it was about removing progress,” said Gonzalez. “We were turning things around in Sunnyside, and that threatened the old guard. Now the people see exactly what was going on.”

Residents are increasingly demanding new leadership — one free of secret meetings, personal grudges, and partisan motives. As one local commenter put it, “They spent $100,000 of our money and found nothing. The people of Sunnyside are tired of being lied to.”

With the city’s reputation on the line and election season approaching, the backlash against the Hancock-aligned faction is intensifying. Sunnyside voters appear ready to move past the politics of division and reclaim the city’s integrity.

“They found nothing — and the people of Sunnyside know it.”