Sunnyside, WA – At Monday night’s Sunnyside City Council meeting, Dr. Jim Stevens offered a heartfelt plea for unity.
“We have a really great community,” Stevens said. “We need to work as hard as we can to stay united. Across our country there are incredible efforts being made to divide us… United we stand.”
He spoke about patriotism, community, and respect for the flag, urging residents to reject division and “stand up for what unites us.”
WATCH JIM STEVENS ON YOUTUBE DURING PUBLIC COMMENT
But public records and digital communications obtained by La Voz show that Dr. Stevens’ private statements to a small group of community members tell a different story — one that contrasts sharply with his message of togetherness.
Private Coordination Behind the Scenes
A recently uncovered group text thread involving 13 Sunnyside residents — including Dr. Jim Stevens, Planning Commissioner Brittain Moore, City Council candidate Tom Dolan — and a host of others, including prominent public figures, reveals private discussions about city matters and the public narrative surrounding the recent investigation into former City Manager Mike Gonzalez.
In one of the messages, Stevens wrote:
“Topic today – Sunnyside or ELLAville. The choice is ours.”
The group continued discussing the investigation timeline and personnel matters, with Moore noting that “last night was the deadline for Mike to sign papers,” and Dolan responding, “I thought today was the deadline.”
While the texts’ tone was conversational, their content reflected a level of familiarity with internal city discussions typically reserved for staff or legal counsel. In the text La Voz has obtained it appears that Brittain Moore often has insider knowledge of city workings. Often citing what’s happening internally before the public is aware of it.
Stevens also called for an “emergency meeting,” writing that he and others were “canceling all of our patients for that day to make this happen.”
In this recent text thread, Stevens makes a comment that Deputy Mayor Galvan will be attending a meeting. “Tuesday morning JORGE is supposed to be on board at our office. Hope you can all make it,” said Stevens.
I-Watch Meetings Have Been Happening For Years at Steven’s Office on Edison. City Council Candidate Tom Dolan is a regular attendee.
For years, Dr. Stevens’ office on East Edison Avenue, located just steps from City Hall, has served as an informal meeting space for a civic group known locally as I-WATCH. The group has been active in shaping public discussion around local government. Several members in this text thread along with Tom Dolan and Brittain Moore often attend those meetings.
Both Dr. Stevens and Tom Dolan were mentioned briefly in the 29-page investigative report conducted by O’Sullivan Leal PLLC regarding Gonzalez’s complaint against Hancock. Their names appeared in reference to comments shared with Gonzalez during his tenure, not as participants in the investigation itself.
Dolan’s wife, Sharon Dolan, has also been a visible and consistent supporter of those who advocated for leadership changes at City Hall. She frequently attends public meetings, offers comments, and has been outspoken about her belief that past city leadership needed to be replaced. An I-Watch insider tells La Voz that Sharon Dolan and Theresa Hancock have become good friends during this election cycle. Begging the question, if Hancock is ousted on November 4th and Tom Dolan is elected, will she still be stirring the pot from the sidelines?
A Message That Doesn’t Match the Moment
The duality between Stevens’ public remarks and his private correspondence has drawn concern from some residents who say it reflects a larger challenge in Sunnyside’s political culture — where public calls for unity are often undercut by private divisions.
While there is no evidence of wrongdoing, the messages illustrate how a small but influential circle of community figures continues to shape public perception and political debate in Sunnyside.
As the city approaches another pivotal election, voters will have to decide which voices best represent their vision of integrity, transparency, and unity — not only in words spoken at the podium, but in the conversations held when no one is watching.
