 Cilmi, aged 21, was elected to the Sunshine City Council in August 1982 although he only held office for one three-year term.The city was managed by a state-appointed commissioner, Alex Gillon, from November 1976 until 1982 after the elected council was sacked by the state government for its financial mismanagement.On 15 December 1994, the City of Sunshine was abolished; the western part of the city, including Sunshine itself, was merged with parts of the City of Keilor, into the newly created City of Brimbank, with the eastern part transferring to the newly created City of Maribyrnong.