Author: Gustavo

My journey into City Council began shortly after moving to Walla Walla, 7 years ago,   when I was invited to participate in the Community Council affordable housing study group.

People from every part of the community were part of that study.

It was a fantastic model of how you resolve problems by involving people with different perspectives and skills to methodically research, listen to subject-matter experts and study the various aspect of the problem.

That approach was a fundamental lesson I learned, and by collaborating, we arrived at practical recommendations, which included several recommendations for local government.  As the chair of the implementation task force, I advocated with the planning commission and city council to propose practical implementations of these recommendations through code modifications and ordinances.

Some of the people that worked with me in that capacity proposed that I continue doing this work and bringing that spirit of collaboration to City Council.  This resulted on running for and being elected to city council.

Today, my way of serving the community is in collaborating, building bridges of trust and understanding.  Whether it is county commissioners, port commissioners, private businesses, non-profit organizations, the community college and others.   The best way we are going to resolve the challenges ahead in our community is in working together, collaborating across all perspectives and sectors of our community.

It is not us and them, in this city there is only us, all of us.

My city council experience, with a strong record of service with integrity and honesty, my community service, leadership skills, multicultural competence and the passion to serve, prepare me to serve the community at large and to continue our important work in City Council. 

My family moved to Walla Walla three years ago, driven by the desire to move to a smaller town and accelerated by discovering the charm of Walla Walla, including a wonderful house that has become our home.  My wife Colette is from Washington, she grew up in the Seattle area, spent summers on her grandparents’ farm on the banks of the Salmon River and graduated from Whitworth College in Spokane. She and I met in Boulder Colorado, where she went to graduate school.  When our daughter was ready to start first grade, we moved to Lafayette, a small town similar to Walla Walla.  In the diverse people of Lafayette, I found my calling in community service.  I was elected for two terms in the Lafayette City Council and served as Mayor Pro-Tem.  As my father-in-law’s Alzheimer’s disease progressed, we wanted to be closer to Seattle to be more available to help. We did not want to move to a large city, and we enjoy the sunnier, dryer climate of Eastern Washington, so we came to Walla Walla for a scouting trip during Spring Release weekend.  We loved the small-town character and the strong sense of community in Walla Walla. That same weekend we found a house we loved within walking distance to WaHi and local parks. We attended a concert in the Power House theatre, ate at great restaurants and enjoyed the proximity to open spaces. That weekend, we knew Walla Walla was our new home.  We made an offer on our house and began our move.  My wife got a job at Whitman College, and I continued my work at Intel, where I manage International marketing.  Most of my work is global and, though my office is in the Intel Portland campus, I mostly work remote from home. Since the moment we arrived, I’ve found opportunities to serve on projects that support the very things that attracted us to Walla Walla. One of my goals for serving on City Council is to contribute my experience, leadership and vision, and to continue to be a part of building a strong and healthy community for our daughter and our future generations.