Mattawa City Council defers appointing new council member

MATTAWA — The Mattawa City Council voted 4-2 Feb. 4 to postpone appointing a new council member until later in the month, after hearing from two applicants.

A Mattawa City Council position was left vacant when then-council member Maggie Celaya was appointed to the position of mayor, after the resignation of Scott Hyndman in November. The council has 90 days from the time of a position becoming vacant to appoint a new member. Once the 90 days have passed, the position can only be filled by the Grant County Commissioners.

Two Mattawa residents, Amanda Perez and Vicente Acosta, submitted letters of interest prior to the council meeting. During the meeting, council members asked the candidates questions about their previous experience and what they have to offer the council and the community.

Perez, a Wahluke graduate, said she would like to bring awareness to the various resources and programs available to Mattawa’s youth and migrant communities. When asked about a previous job she had in the medical field, Perez said she never broke confidentiality or HIPAA regulations.

Vicente Acosta, who lives close to current council member Tony Acosta, but doesn’t have any immediate family connections, has lived in Mattawa since 2006 and is originally from Sunnyside. He said Mattawa is similar to where he grew up, allowing him to relate to the community.

“I didn’t grow up speaking English,” Vicente Acosta said. “My parents encouraged me to go to school. I have a BA and a master’s in education. I taught Spanish, English and math. I have been an administrator.”

Currently, Vicente Acosta works as a school psychologist. He has also done some private-practice work in violence, anger management and drugs.

Graffiti is one thing Vicente Acosta would like to see the city of Mattawa address.

“I walk around the community a couple of times a day,” Vicente Acosta said. “One of the things that really bothers me is the graffiti. I see it on fences, buildings and doors. One thing I know about graffiti is that it needs to be taken care of right away.”

Vicente Acosta said if graffiti is not taken care of, it can act as encouragement for further graffiti.

Council member Tony Acosta addressed the question about the two having the same last name and asked if he and Vicente Acosta had any family relations. Vicente replied it would take a little bit of talking to find a connection, such a cousin, between the two.

Vicente Acosta mentioned he was on the planning committee for two years, around the time the flea market was put into Mattawa. He said during the process, he worked with Council member Silvia Barahas and Celaya.

Prior to the decision to not appoint either Perez or Vicente Acosta during the meeting, the council went into executive session for 40 minutes to discuss the appointment. Once back from executive session, council member Tony Acosta motioned to appoint Vicente Acosta to the council, with council member Wendy Lopez seconding the motion. It failed, with four members opposed to the appointment.

Council member Alex Heredia motioned to wait until closer to the end of “the 90 days and wait for more applicants to express interest in the position.” The motion was seconded by council member Brian Berghout. This second motion passed with nay votes from Tony Acosta and Lopez.

Celaya commented the end of the 90 days is Feb. 23 and there was only one council meeting remaining before the appointment would go to the county.

Anyone interested in being on the Mattawa City Council should contact the Mattawa City Hall at 509-932-4037.