Sunnyside Government
City Council
City Council Meetings:
Workshops - 6:00 p.m., 2nd & 4th Mondays
Regular Meetings - 7:00 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 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. 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 (Position 5) expires December 31, 2011.
Council Member Jesse Hernandez, Jr.
Council member Jesse Hernandez, Jr. was sworn in as a Sunnyside City Council member March 23, 2009.
Prior to joining the Sunnyside City Council, Council member Hernandez served on both the Sunnyside Planning Commission and Sunnyside Parks and Recreation Commission. He also served as President of the Sunnyside Chamber of Commerce Executive Board of Directors for two years.
His term (Position 2) will expire December 31, 2009.
Email Council Member Hernandez
Council Member Nick Paulakis
Council member Nick Paulakis was appointed to Position 4 and sworn into office June 22, 2009.
His current term (Position 4) expires December 31, 2009.
Council Member Tom Gehlen
Council member Tom Gehlen was elected to the City Council in November 2007 and is serving his first term.
His current term (Position 7) expires December 31, 2011.
Council Member
Theresa Hancock
Council member 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. Council member 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 (Position 1) expires December 31, 2009.
Mayor Pro Tem
Jim Restucci
Mayor Pro Tem James (Jim) A. Restucci was elected to the Sunnyside City Council in 2003 and is currently serving his second term. Mayor Pro Tem Restucci was appointed by his fellow council members as Mayor Pro Tem on February 9, 2009. He previously served as Mayor Pro Tem from 2006 to 2008.
Mayor Pro Tem Restucci currently serves as the chairman of the City's Airport Committee and primary delegate to the Yakima Valley Conference of Governments (YVCOG), and past president and current member of the Sunnyside Industrial Development Corporation.
Mayor Pro Tem Restucci currently serves as vice chairman of the YVCOG and 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. Since 2008, Mayor Pro Tem Restucci has represented the State of Washington on the National League of Cities Information Technology and Communications Policy & Advocacy Committee and in 2007 was appointed by Governor Gregoire as a Washington State Notary.
Mayor Pro Tem Restucci served as a member of the U.S. Army and Washington Army National Guard from 1984 to 2004. He is a lifetime member of the Sunnyside VFW and a recipient of the State of Washington Guardsman's Medal. He holds degrees in Information Systems and Computer Science from Texas State Technical College and the University of Maryland respectively, as well as a Masters degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Connecticut, School of Engineering.
In his professional life Mayor Pro Tem 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 (Position 6) expires December 31, 2011
Council Member Carol Stone
Council member 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 (Position 3) expires December 31, 2009.
