Cupertino Matters
- Council Candidates
- Voting Information
- RECAP – Special Council Meeting on Housing, Wed., Oct. 23, 6:00 p.m.
Only one more week until Nov. 5, Election Day! Cupertino has four drop-off boxes at (1) civic plaza, one chained to the post at the front door of city hall, (2) one chained to a pillar at the library, (2) Quinlan Center and (4) De Anza College Parking Lot A outside of the Registration and Student Services Building. For problems or just to vote in person, the Cupertino Library has a walk-in Vote Center with staff to handle any Registrar of Voters issues. Usually open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., it will be open until 8 p.m. on Election Day, Nov. 5.
City council election this year is critical to determining the future of Cupertino. Cupertino Today commentary provides a perspective in this article: In Cupertino’s City Council race, it’s 2022 all over again. Kitty Moore and Ray Wang are running primarily on “fiscal responsibility” focusing on prior financial issues that have been quietly largely resolved by our capable Mayor Sheila Mohan, a former financial director. Their litigation history against the city and residents–most notably Kitty Moore’s failed 2018 lawsuit in opposition to the Vallco project approvals–are troubling. Hung Wei and Rod Sinks are running on a renewed vision of negotiating for a downtown at The Rise (Vallco), economic development, and working with developers to sensibly provide the state-required 4,588 homes in the Housing Element. Three other candidates are running on a variety of platforms: Claudio Bono, Gilbert Wong and Barry Chang.
Readers are urged to go beyond candidate websites and statements in the official voters guide to explore qualifications:
- Check candidates’ LinkedIn profiles listed below for work experience (or lack thereof) and leadership positions, both for-profit and nonprofit, which show collaboration and project management skills. What has each candidate accomplished?
- Browse endorsements. In addition to community members, are candidates endorsed by other members of the boards they serve on? Several of the candidates have served on school boards – do other members endorse them? Do electeds from other cities/regional organizations endorse the candidate? They only endorse people they can work with, not adversarial candidates. Cupertino is a small city – cooperation with other cities and regional bodies is essential.
- What advocacy groups are evaluating candidates? Locally, Walk Bike Cupertino surveyed all the candidates and scored their responses. Cupertino For All invited all candidates for an interview, then developed a Voter Guide for 2024
- Do Google searches on each candidate. All have been in the news at some point, with stories not touted on their candidate websites. Note there are stories from an “alternative facts” site co-mingled with authoritative news sources. Suggested search terms include:
- Candidate name Grand Jury
- Candidate name removal
- Candidate name lawsuit
Candidates and links:
- Claudio Bono – Hotel manager, Parks and Recreation Commissioner
- Barry Chang – Former mayor
- Kitty Moore – Incumbent (not selected as mayor by colleagues)
- Rod Sinks – Former mayor / Fremont Union High School District Trustee
- Ray Wang – Technology speaker / consultant (previously removed as a Planning Commissioner)
- Hung Wei – Incumbent/Former mayor/former Fremont Union High School District Trustee
- Gilbert Wong – Former mayor / Foothill Deanza Community College District Trustee
There are also media profiles San Jose Spotlight has published an Election Guide, with candidate profiles that include campaign contributions The San Jose Spotlight also provided an article Meet the candidates running for Cupertino City Council with a profile on each candidate as well as fund-raising coverage in: Money flows into Cupertino City Council race. The most recent article summarizes the Spotlight in-person forum on Oct. 16, 2024, Cupertino candidates talk housing, budget before election.
The Mercury News published an article with profiles of the seven candidates in: Meet the candidates vying for a seat at the Cupertino City Council: Seven candidates are in the race to fill two open council seats.
The League of Women Voters hosted a number of election forums. The recordings have been posted to their website, In addition to candidate forums, check the Ballot Measure Pro & Cons. In addition, the state League of Women Voters has taken positions on the state propositions. Note that single digit propositions have been vetted and passed by the legislature, whereas the double digit propositions are initiated by special interest groups.
For more research, past issues back to January 2020 (two election cycles) of Cupertino Matters are posted on the website. Readers may review current council members voting records, particularly nay votes (and abstensions) on key issues. Encourage your friends who would like to become better informed about our community to subscribe to our email newsletter at CupertinoMatters.org.
RECAP – CITY COUNCIL – Special Meeting, Wed., Oct. 23, 6:00 p.m.
YouTube: 1 hr. 41 min.
Prior to the study session, a couple dozen residents gathered in Civic Plaza in opposition to the builder’s remedy project application for a 20-home development on Scofield Drive near Faria Elementary School. Only a handful stayed for the actual study session, which also had low attendance.
The sole agenda item was Statewide Housing Laws that Apply to Applications for Housing Development Projects. Specific development projects were not discussed. A well respected housing law attorney presented on housing laws that have been recently enacted, some currently in effect, and others that will take effect in 2025. The Builders Remedy, SB 330 Preliminary Applications, and the Density Bonus Law were also all discussed. The overall takeaway is Cupertino needs to abide by housing laws, since litigation is likely to favor the applicants, third-party housing advocates and the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
CUPERTINO COURIER: October 25, 2024
The front page story and article on page 5 is entitled “Glimmers’ of joy, wonder: Shinto shrines, Dia de los Muertos inspire exhibit at the Euphrat Museum of Art on the DeAnza College campus. Community briefs are (1) Monster Mash and (2) Birding walk .Page 6 is an article by Joe Simitian, county supervisor, entitled Rebuilding Together helps the West Valley seniors age in place. Legal notices include (1) First and Second readings of changes to municipal codes, (2) Notice of CDBG and NOFA housing funds, and (3) Unclaimed funds.
Warm regards,
Jean Bedord
Cupertino Matters
Publisher and Editor
