Public Records Investigation Exposes Plot: Hancock, Galvan, and Mayor Broersma Worked in the Dead of Night to Oust City Manager Mike Gonzalez and Install Jim Bridges
Sunnyside, WA — The Sunnyside City Council voted on September 29 to extend Interim City Manager Jim Bridges’ contract for another six months — a decision that has renewed public discussion about how Bridges returned to City Hall and the events leading up to the departure of former City Manager Mike Gonzalez.
Community Concerns Over Process
Several Sunnyside residents and former candidates for the city manager position have questioned whether the hiring process that led to Bridges’ appointment was handled transparently.
Who Is Blaine Oborn and Why Is He So Upset?
Among them is Blaine Oborn, former Oak Harbor City Administrator and one of the finalists for the interim role. In a September 23 interview on the City Manager Unfiltered podcast, Oborn criticized the City Council’s actions, describing what he called a “deeply flawed process.” He said he is considering legal options but has not filed any formal complaint to date.
Oborn told the podcast that before his interview, “the mayor told me the job was mine,” but that “things changed suddenly and unexpectedly.” He further alleged that Bridges and a former city employee made calls to members of the council that influenced the decision.
When contacted by The Voice of Sunnyside for comment, Oborn reiterated his concern that “the process lacked fairness and transparency.” Councilmembers and city officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Records Indicate Discussions between Mayor Broersma, Hancock and Galvan to oust Mike Gonzalez began before Gonzalez was put on leave without any justification
Public records obtained through the Washington Public Records Act show that city officials had begun discussing potential leadership changes before Gonzalez was placed on administrative leave.
Documents uncovered by our partners at La Voz Hispanic News suggest the hiring process itself may have been tainted. Emails, texts, and call logs between several members of the Sunnyside City Council show discussions between city officials and Oborn took place well before Gonzalez had been placed on leave. Legal experts note the communications appear to brush against Washington’s “rolling meeting” laws, which prohibit council members from making decisions outside of a public session.
Conversations to Remove Gonzalez Began as Early as May 27th
According to documents obtained the recruiting firm Colin Baeziger and Associates reached out to the former Oak Harbor City Administrator before Mike Gonzalez was put on leave.
Blain Oborn told former City Manager Mike Gonzalez those conversations with the city began as early as Wednesday May 27th. Text messages obtained by La Voz , between Mayor Broersma and Theresa Hancock also indicate that acting City Attorney Quinn Plant was made aware that there would be an executive session concerning Mike Gonzalez on Monday June 2nd.
Phone logs obtained through public records request show calls were made between Hancock, Broersma and Galvan before the June 2nd removal of Gonzalez.
Text Messages Between Mayor Broersma and Theresa Hancock
On June 2nd, the day that Gonzalez was placed on leave, City Clerk Jacqueline Renteria and Mayor Dean Broersma exchanged emails with Colin Baeziger and Associates on possible candidates, including Blain Oborn. Keep in mind, Gonzalez had not received any notice that he would be put on “paid administrative leave for non-disciplinary actions”. Gonzalez had also just received a solid performance review.
“Prior to my interview with the City of Sunnyside the mayor told me the job was mine. So I thought it was just a matter of the council approving my appointment. I was ready to start,” said Oborn.
This fact itself raises very serious ethical questions. Why was the mayor and the city clerk, communicating with a city manager candidate, and the recruiting firm – without the city council’s knowledge – or community’s input?
The June 4th Embarrassing Display from Mayor Broersma
During a special City Council meeting on June 4, Broersma acknowledged initiating contact with Oborn without a formal council vote, stating, “I may have gotten ahead of myself… I just wanted a contingency plan.”
That exchange, recorded in the meeting video, appeared to surprise several councilmembers. Following the meeting, Oborn sent emails to city officials expressing disappointment with how events had unfolded.
Bridges Reenters the Picture with the Help of Deputy Mayor Galvan
According to phone records reviewed by La Voz, Deputy Mayor Galvan placed a six-minute call to Bridges on June 4 — the same day Oborn’s candidacy unraveled. The next morning, Bridges emailed the city expressing interest in the interim position.
Deputy Mayor Galvan Call Logs With Bridges on June 4th
It is unclear what was discussed during the phone call, and no documentation has surfaced confirming whether Bridges was directly offered the position at that time. By mid-June, the council formally appointed Bridges as interim city manager.
A Return With History
Publicly available personnel records and previous media coverage show that Bridges has a long history with the City of Sunnyside, including disciplinary actions during his earlier tenure.
- 2007: Dismissed following an internal investigation into an inappropriate workplace relationship (he later married the employee involved).
- 2011: Disciplined for granting raises without council authorization.
- 2012: His position as Public Works Director was later eliminated amid departmental restructuring.
Bridges has not publicly addressed those past issues since his return. La Voz has reached out to Bridges for comment, however up to this point we haven’t received a response by publication time.
Timeline of Key Events
- Late May 2025: Communications between Broersma, Hancock, and Galvan reference possible leadership changes.
- June 2, 2025: Gonzalez placed on administrative leave.
- June 4, 2025: Special council meeting reveals prior private discussions.
- June 5, 2025: Bridges contacts the city expressing interest in the position.
- Mid-June 2025: Bridges appointed interim city manager.
- September 29, 2025: Council extends Bridges’ contract for six months.
Ongoing Debate Over Transparency
At the September 29 meeting, several residents voiced frustration over the extension, citing concerns about transparency and council decision-making. Others said Bridges has provided stability during a difficult transition.
City officials have stated that all actions regarding the city manager position were taken in accordance with state law and the city charter.
As of publication, no formal complaints or legal actions have been filed related to the hiring process. The Voice of Sunnyside will continue to review public records and report new information as it becomes available.
Editor’s note: All statements regarding city officials are based on public records, public meetings, and on-the-record interviews. Individuals named were offered an opportunity to comment before publication.
