Ramon Chavez: A Lifelong Sunnyside Resident Stepping Up for Change

Sunnyside, WA — For more than 30 years, Ramon Chavez has dedicated his life to serving others. Now, the 51-year-old Substance Use Disorder Professional, lifelong Sunnyside resident, and youth coach is stepping forward to run for Sunnyside City Council District 4, challenging incumbent Vicki Ripley.

Deep Roots in Sunnyside

Ramon grew up in Sunnyside and never left. His career began in the Sunnyside School District, where for a decade he worked with students struggling with substance use and mental health. He continued that work as a professional counselor, serving the community for over three decades.

Outside of his career, Ramon has always been on the field with Sunnyside’s kids. He volunteers with the Mid-Valley Soccer League, coaching teams of boys and girls as young as four years old. He’s also coached wrestling, helping young people learn discipline, teamwork, and confidence.

Ramon and his wife—his lifelong sweetheart—are raising seven children together, from ages 13 to 29. His wife works for Save the Children, a role that reflects the family’s shared commitment to service.

Why He’s Running

For Ramon, the decision to run comes down to one word: trust.

“Right now, I don’t trust our City Council. I don’t trust how they’re managing our city. I don’t feel they’re being transparent. Too often, decisions feel like they’re about what can be done for individuals, instead of what can be done for Sunnyside,” said Chavez.

Ramon says his goal is to restore transparency and put residents first.

“When I go home at night, I want to sleep comfortable knowing the decisions I made are in the best interest of our city—not me, not anyone else.”

Priorities for Sunnyside

If elected, Ramon has identified several urgent priorities:

• Downtown Revitalization: “We have too many empty buildings in Sunnyside. From the old Dollar Tree to the Dollar General, these spaces are sitting vacant. We need to make it easier for businesses to open and bring life back downtown.”
• Addressing Homelessness and Addiction: With decades of experience in behavioral health, Ramon knows the struggles first-hand. “We have people with mental health and substance use needs sitting in our parks and plazas. Helping them helps reduce crime and improves public safety.”
• Maximizing the Community Center: Ramon believes Sunnyside’s investment in the South Hill Park Community Center is being wasted. “We should be asking the community how they want to use it. That facility should be alive with programs, resources, and opportunities for families.”
• Youth Engagement, Not Just Curfews: On the city’s controversial youth curfew, Ramon is clear: “Putting a curfew on kids doesn’t solve the problem. We need to give them programs and safe spaces. That’s the real solution.”

Ethics and Accountability

Ramon has also spoken out about the recent firing of Sunnyside’s City Manager.

“You don’t just fire a city manager without explaining why. It took three months to get an answer, and even then, the public was left in the dark. That’s wrong. Sunnyside deserves transparency.”

On politics, Ramon says he respects the difficulty of public service but insists elected leaders must hold themselves to higher standards.

“I want to be ethical in everything I do. Politics should never come before people. My voice will always be for Sunnyside.”

A Fresh Voice for District 4

Ramon’s opponent, incumbent Vicki Ripley, has been closely tied to Councilwoman Theresa Hancock. While Ramon offers respect for Ripley’s service, he believes it’s time for a new vision.

“It’s not easy being on City Council, and I respect anyone who takes on that responsibility. But Sunnyside needs change. Sunnyside needs transparency. And that’s why I’m running.”