Mike González

SUNNYSIDE, Wash. —  Sunnyside City Manager Speaks During Tuesday’s Press Conference

Sunnyside is at a breaking point. After more than three months on paid, non-disciplinary leave, City Manager Mike Gonzalez stood alongside Councilmembers Julia Hart and Vicky Frausto to demanded transparency, accountability, and an end to the costly political games that have consumed City Hall during a press conference Tuesday in front of the Sunnyside Law and Justice Center.

“This whole process has just been a witch hunt,” Hart declared. “I do not believe it’s a legal process. I don’t believe that Mr. Gonzalez should have ever been put on non-disciplinary leave. It’s cost the city money to hire two city managers and pay for an independent investigation we never budgeted for.”

Gonzalez Says He Doesn’t Want to Sue or the Money — He Just Wants His Job in Sunnyside

“I’m here today because I want to work for the people of Sunnyside — nothing more, nothing less. That has always been my purpose,” Gonzalez said.

He pointed to accomplishments that include securing $1.3 million for youth soccer fields, reopening the community pool through partnerships, and saving the city millions in infrastructure costs.

“I know I have done nothing wrong,” Gonzalez added. “If I’m fired, it will not be because of wrongdoing, but because of politics. Let the people see the report — let the truth stand on its own.” “I want my job back. I don’t want to sue. I don’t want money. I just want to get back to serving the people of Sunnyside.”

When asked why he thought he was placed on leave, Gonzalez responded plainly:

“That’s what we’re all trying to figure out, because we don’t know. If you could figure that out for me, I would love to know — because I think the community wants that answer too.”

Hart: A Voice of Conscience

Councilor Julia Hart reminded residents that she helped hire Gonzalez and had seen his potential early on:

“I saw in him the potential of being a fantastic hero for our community — a progressive man reaching out to members who often don’t have a say. He’s done an excellent job of that.”

She pushed back against the majority bloc, saying:

“When your own sense of ethics says this is not the way to carry on, you have to speak up. You have to vote conscience. That’s what Councilor Frausto and I have tried to do.”

Frausto calls Gonzalez’s leave an “Orchestration of Power”

Frausto was blunt:

“I believe this was an orchestration for preservation of power by a few on council, and it was done at the expense of the community.”

She pointed to the $100,000+ price tag and the duplicative salaries:

“We’re paying Mike Gonzalez his salary, we’re paying Jim Bridges the same amount, and on top of that, we’re paying an investigator $325 an hour. When council members argue about nickels and dimes in the budget but stay silent about this waste — that speaks volumes.”

Jim Bridges: Double Standards

While Gonzalez was sidelined, the council brought back Jim Bridges as interim city manager — despite a past of firings, ethical breaches, and conflicts of interest including a sewer line his company built in the new Catholic Charities development in Sunnyside that city’s wastewater staff has confirmed is cracking and leaking in certain parts. The cost to the city could be in the hundreds of thousands. Sources tell La Voz, Bridges has been trying to pass on the blame to his subcontractor – John Wind – a well-known developer in the valley. If Bridges is named the permanent city manager, we wonder if Bridges will come clean and pay for the repairs?

City staff also tells La Voz Bridges even cleared out Gonzalez’s office with Clerk Jacqueline Renteria, rummaging through his personal belongings. Frausto called out the hypocrisy directly during today’s press conference:

“We’re paying Jim Bridges, a man with a very problematic history with the city, the same salary as Mike Gonzalez. This is the same Bridges who sued Sunnyside years ago after leaving under a cloud of controversy. And now he’s back, while Mike — who delivered for this community — is sidelined. That makes no sense.”

The double standard is glaring: Gonzalez, who brought in millions, was punished. Bridges, who left behind controversy, was rewarded.

Press Conference Comes Days After the Kenton Gartrell Appointment Fiasco, and Galvan’s silence on missing and damaged towels