Historic visit from Guatemalan mayor to headline Matta’s final Burien City Council meeting on Monday, Dec. 8

Burien City Councilmember and former Mayor Jimmy Matta is inviting residents to Burien City Hall on Monday, Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. for what he describes as a historic moment marking his final meeting as an elected official and the presentation of a city proclamation to Mayor Hugo Sarceño of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala.

In a public statement on Facebook, Matta said Mayor Sarceño will travel to Burien for the ceremony and will arrive on Dec. 5. During the visit, Sarceño is scheduled to meet with renewable energy and tech leaders, modular home designers, business owners and elected officials. Matta said Sarceño will also participate in interviews with Spanish language media serving the region’s Guatemalan community.

“This is more than a ceremonial gathering. It is a historic moment of unity between our communities and a celebration of the bonds that connect us across borders,” Matta said.

Matta called the upcoming event deeply personal, noting that both of his parents were from Puerto Barrios. He said hosting the mayor of the town where his family grew up “feels like coming full circle” as he prepares for his final council meeting.

“December 8 will mark my last meeting as an elected official, one of the biggest accomplishments of my life,” Matta said. “I believe it would have made my father proud.”

Matta reflected on his upbringing as a young farmworker in Eastern Washington and his evolving understanding of his own Guatemalan heritage. He credited community advocates for helping expand representation, including the establishment of the Guatemalan Consulate in the region.

Matta said Sarceño is a leader who understands the political systems of both the United States and Central America, and who shares common goals familiar to Burien residents, including “good schools for their children, the ability to operate a business, clean and safe streets, and opportunities for future generations.”

Matta said the visit will also include efforts to strengthen local mental health support, particularly for trauma survivors, and to connect families with Spanish speaking counselors. 

Matta invited residents, business owners, elected officials and community leaders to attend events during Sarceño’s visit and encouraged sponsorships or partnerships.

“This moment is about building bridges, honoring sacrifice, and strengthening the ties that make our community resilient,” he said.

Matta also highlighted the accomplishments of his children and the cultural contributions of his sister, Evita Torres, calling his family’s progress a reflection of the sacrifices made by previous generations.

“As I close this chapter of my life in public service, I want to do so by honoring where I came from and building bridges for where we are going,” Matta said.

Residents interested in participating or sponsoring events during the visit may contact Matta directly at jimmymatta@msn.com.

Matta’s Full Statement

Here’s Matta’s full statement:

“I warmly invite you to join us at Burien City Hall on December 8th at 5:00 PM as we celebrate my final meeting as an elected official and present a proclamation to Mayor Hugo Sarceño of Puerto Barrios, Guatemala.

“This is more than a ceremonial gathering—it is a historic moment of unity between our communities and a celebration of the bonds that connect us across borders.

“Mayor Sarceño is flying here to be with us, arriving on December 5th. During his visit, he will be meeting with business leaders in renewable energy and tech, modular home designers and builders, business owners, and elected officials. He will also participate in interviews with Spanish-language media, reaching our significant Guatemalan population in the region. I invite you to join us for any of these events during Mayor Sarceño’s visit. If you would like to sponsor an event, please reach out to me directly.

“This visit represents something deeply personal to me and meaningful to our entire community.

“When I was a young man, my father used to tell me that when he retired, he would return to his native country and become mayor of the town where he grew up. When you experience the trauma of having a father battling drug addiction, you sometimes write off the stories they tell you as dreams that will never come true. But I never imagined that I would live his dream through my own service—first serving two terms as mayor and now as a councilmember of the City of Burien.

“To now host the mayor of the very town where both my mother and father grew up, and to present him with a proclamation from the city I love and have been privileged to serve, feels like coming full circle. December 8th will mark my last meeting as an elected official—one of the biggest accomplishments of my life. I believe it would have made my father proud, and my mother, who came from a country facing overwhelming economic and political challenges.

“I remember working in Eastern Washington as a young farmworker and not even knowing I was Guatemalan. I grew up embracing Mexican customs and food preferences—an interesting reflection of how culture works. We are shaped not only by our American identity but also by our broader Hispanic culture, often led by the Mexican community, for whom I have deep love and respect.

“As a young man, I didn’t know how to explain my heritage or who I was. But thanks to the hard work of advocates in our community, we now have representation through the Consulate of Guatemala.

“Mayor Hugo Sarceño is a leader who understands both our political system as Americans and the realities of Central America. More importantly, as an elected official of Puerto Barrios, he knows what all people want: good schools for their children, the ability to operate a business, clean and safe streets, and opportunities for future generations to thrive and stay connected to their heritage.

“Mayor Sarceño understands the importance of relationships—between people, governments, and businesses—which is essential to building resilient communities. He is traveling to the United States—the country where so many people from his own town have come seeking opportunity, willing to make sacrifices for the freedom to support their families back home and to help elevate the circumstances and outcomes in the communities they left behind.

“We would also like to work on aligning ourselves with mental health resources, particularly for trauma survivors, and more importantly, strengthening the relationship with our children. We are seeking to partner with mental health counselors who can work with our community and who speak Spanish. This is critical work that honors the struggles our families have faced and ensures that future generations have the support they need to heal and thrive.

“This is your invitation to be part of something historic. On December 8th at 5:00 PM at Burien City Hall, we will honor the connections between Puerto Barrios and Burien, between Guatemala and America, and between the dreams of our parents and the reality we’ve built for our children.

“Throughout Mayor Sarceño’s visit from December 5th through December 8th, there will be multiple opportunities to participate in events, meetings, and celebrations.

“Whether you are part of our Guatemalan community, a business owner, an elected official, a leader in renewable energy or tech, a mental health professional, someone interested in international partnership, or simply someone who values the immigrant story that built this nation—you are welcome.

“If you would like to sponsor an event or participate in any way, please contact me directly. This moment is about building bridges, honoring sacrifice, and strengthening the ties that make our community resilient.

“I have been a community activist, a labor leader, an elected official, served two terms as mayor of this city, and now as a current councilmember, I also serve as president of the Northwest Minority Builders Alliance and owner of Ahora Construction, a union construction company. But the title I think about every day is father—and soon, grandfather—to American children whose heritage is Guatemalan.

“I am incredibly proud of my children and what they have accomplished. My son, Jimmy Matta Jr., earned his masters, degree in business and has been very successful. My daughter, Maya Matta, also earned her degree at UW Foster School of Business and has achieved great success as well. I look forward to all my children pursuing the success that America has to offer—proving that the sacrifices of their grandparents were not in vain.

“Our family’s commitment to community extends beyond public service. My sister, Evita Torres, has made her mark in the avenue of arts and culture. She is an upcoming singer who has been recognized for her extraordinary talent. Though we had different fathers, she is my sister and I love her just the same. Her work in preserving and celebrating our cultural heritage through music is a testament to how our family honors the sacrifices of our parents—through service, through art, and through keeping our traditions alive for the next generation.

“My father had a vision. He named my siblings and me—Jennifer, Susan, and Jimmy Matta—and he will be remembered forever in my heart. He battled drug addiction, a struggle rooted in the trauma he endured as civil war broke out in Guatemala. My parents fled socialism and communism, leaving behind the country they loved, their families, their home—so that we could have the opportunities we have today.

“I am proud that everyone will know my parents came from Puerto Barrios, Guatemala. I am proud of my father, despite his struggles, and of my mother, who I loved dearly and who endured so much. I understand their sacrifice was not only for me but for generations to come.

“As my father said, every generation must do the work to protect our family—because family is the foundation, and the success of our families is built on the sacrifices of our ancestors.

“As I close this chapter of my life in public service, I want to do so by honoring where I came from and building bridges for where we’re going.

“December 8th at 5:00 PM at Burien City Hall—please be there.

“And if you can participate in any of the events during Mayor Sarceño’s visit from December 5th onward, your presence would mean the world.

“For sponsorship opportunities or to RSVP, please reach out to me directly jimmymatta@msn.com

“The future looks bright for all of us, not only in the United States but across the world, as we continue to be leaders of freedom and democracy—an example of what other countries aspire to become without losing their sovereignty or the right to free speech.

“With respect and gratitude,
“Jimmy Matta Sr
“Councilmember, City of Burien
“Former Mayor (Two Terms)
“A leader in a community I love—America”