City of Goodyear
Home MenuCouncilmember Vicki Gillis
Councilmember Vicki Gillis was elected to her first term in August 2022. Originally born in Seattle, Washington, Vicki Gillis spent years working in the entertainment industry before becoming involved in political and charitable causes. A former Miss Washington Hemisphere singer and Goodwill Ambassador, she decided after being asked, to focus on serving her community.
The events of 9-11 are what pushed Vicki from focusing on charity work to becoming more involved politically. Vicki and the Seattle Benevolence Association raised funds for the FDNY Widows and Children’s Fund where she met and became friends with FDNY Deputy Chief Nick Visconti and Assistant to Chief of Department Steve Mosiello, Steve would later die of cancer from the toxic dusts at Ground Zero. Before he died Steve asked Vicki to help his fellow firefighters and cops, for whom health battles had only just begun or had not yet begun. True to her word, Vicki spent several years working to help support the James Zadroga Bill to assist first responders in keeping the insurance they needed from the actions of 9-11 that were at risk of being discontinued.
“I wanted to do what I could to keep insurance for these first responders who were dying of several cancers and to ease the horrific pain one feels after the loss of a loved one due to a tragic incident. Firefighters and police, these are dangerous jobs and we're a big family that needs to look after one another.”
Later Vicki would catch the eye of an Arkansas State Senator for her work as a singer she had been doing with Burl Ives as well as political events, she received a Goodwill Ambassador title from State Senator Steve Ferris. Vicki is also helping former Green Berets like Juan Mata arrange training for SWAT programs in Arizona and California, to get them better training and keep them safer and better equipped to do their jobs.
Vicki has been actively involved in helping the homeless and drug programs in Goodyear, Arizona. She has been working towards cleaning up the washes and ensuring that the Police Department provides necessary resources to those in need. Additionally, she is currently advocating and supporting the Goodyear Police Department to keep drugs off the streets.
Working directly with first responders and military members around the United States, she was inspired to work closely with the many heroes that serve our local communities. Vicki’s top priority is public safety to ensure that our first responders have the resources they need, for example the Police Department Operations Building expansion and the construction of Fire Station 188 in west Goodyear, among many other investments. Vicki feels that as fast as the city of Goodyear is growing it is important to make sure our citizens are safe.
“I look forward to everything my role has to offer and will continue advocating on your behalf. There are a lot of great things happening in Goodyear, and I am excited to be a part of growing and developing a better city together.”