Cupertino City Council sees 7 candidates vying for 2 open seats

With two open seats up for grabs on the Cupertino City Council, incumbents Kitty Moore and Hung Wei are vying against five challengers this November as the city reckons with an affordable housing crisis, the revitalization of the old Vallco property and a budget deficit following the loss of millions in sales tax dollars.

Residents can expect to see a more seasoned group of political hopefuls, with a majority of candidates consisting of former Cupertino councilmembers and mayors, running for a four-year term on the five-member council.

Here’s who’s running

Kitty Moore

Having served on the council since 2020, Moore is prepared to speak up for residents and be a “smart watch dog” for council affairs. “I’m pretty universally known for doing my homework and being detail oriented about city manners,” she said.

One of Moore’s priorities is to monitor tax dollars in the city’s finances and make “important reforms” to ensure fiscal transparency and accountability.

Moore said she supports city growth and wants leaders to consider the environmental and public safety impacts of large projects, like the Vallco development. During her time on the council, Moore was known for advocating for proper oversite of hazardous waste at the demolished mall site, which will soon hold thousands of affordable housing units.

Last year, in the wake of an independent investigation looking into the misconduct of the Cupertino City Council, Moore and Councilmember Liang Chao were stripped of their committee assignments. Former Mayor Darcy Paul was also investigated by the county’s District Attorney’s Office for his behavior towards city staff. Both members were reinstated in fall 2023, following the city’s decision to require additional training for councilmembers on council governance and staff communication.

Hung Wei

Although her first term as councilmember is coming to an end, Wei wants to run for reelection because she “needs to finish the work we started four years ago” including bringing more housing and reliable transportation to the city. Wei wants to make sure all families have access to good schools, and amenities, including more parks and trails.

She hopes Cupertino will see itself as a Silicon Valley city, and work with neighboring cities to bring more housing, business, transportation and education opportunities into the area.

“It’s important for us as city councilmembers to have the future in our mind for every decision we make,” she said. “We should have this mindset that we’re making this decision for the next 10 or 20 years, not just five.”

In addition to serving as a Cupertino councilmember and former mayor, Wei was a trustee for the Fremont Union High School District and board president for the Fremont Union High Schools Foundation and the Rotary Club of Cupertino. Outside of the city, Wei was a board member for the Asian American Parent Association and Northwest YMCA as well as a board director for the League of Women Voters of Cupertino-Sunnyvale.

Barry Chang

Chang, who served as a mayor for one term and a councilmember for eight years, said he is returning to improve residents’ quality of life.

His priorities include collaborating with the county’s sheriff department to address homelessness and public safety issues. He also wants to work to bring the city out of a $30 million budget deficit and ensure that no other city services get cut. The avid pickleball player said he’ll also advocate for better pickleball facilities in the city, as well as broader senior services.

Chang said he is the best candidate because he “dares to do what other city leaders don’t,” including criticizing Apple for not paying their “fair share in taxes” and fighting for 20 years to bring the Lehigh Cement Plant into compliance for clean air and clean water. The plant permanently closed in 2023.

“I can tell you, there is no other candidate who will take this kind of step, and do the right thing for the people,” Chang said.

Chang recently ran for the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors District 5 seat in February, but lost to Mountain View City Council member Margaret Abe-Koga.

In 2016, while Chang was mayor, a recall application was filed against him by residents concerned about campaign donations he received from developers associated with the redevelopments of Vallco Shopping Mall and The Oaks Shopping Center. The recall did not make it to the election ballot.

Claudio Bono

Bono, who serves as managing director for the Cupertino Hotel, is jumping into the race because he wants to bring “good governance” to the city and support small businesses and renters.

The businessman’s top priorities include restoring city services slashed over the years and providing cost-friendly housing for residents, especially first responders, service workers and teachers. He also wants to find ways for local businesses to “coexist” with future developments.

Bono said one of his strengths is being able to work with people of all backgrounds. “I don’t belong to a certain group,” he said. “I am a concerned residents who finds solutions and moves forward.”

He came to Cupertino in 2014 as hotel general manager for the hotel, which was then called The Cupertino Inn. Bono currently serves on the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission. He also previously held leadership positions at the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce and Cupertino Historical Society. In 2017, Bono received the city’s CREST Award, an award that recognizes a person or organization’s dedication to community service.

Ray Wang

Wang is running for the council seat because he wants Cupertino leaders to be more “resident-focused.” Lately, instead of listening to residents, the council has been interested in hearing from lobbyists and special interest groups on city matters, Wang said.

His main priorities include advocating for more fiscal accountability and transparency of taxpayer dollars, and finding a “balance” between growing the city’s housing supply and preserving single-family neighborhoods and local businesses. He also wants Cupertino to protect its public spaces and not be so quick to consider selling those properties to private interests.

“We should not be selling public land to build more housing,” he said. “Those are precious resources.”

Wang was appointed chair of Cupertino’s Planning Commission in 2019, but was ousted from his post last year following accusations of harassing community members and city officials. Wang and his supporters previously called the move politically motivated and criticized the council’s majority for not hearing his side of the story before the decision.

Gilbert Wong

Wong spent the last decade working for the city, including two-terms as a mayor, nine years as a council member, and six years as a planning commissioner. The current Foothill-De Anza Community College District Trustee said his extensive experience working in leadership roles and reaching out to community members makes him a qualified candidate.

“I will fight for our residents to get things done,” he said. “We need to get results.”

Some of Wong’s priorities include adding more affordable housing in the area and creating a popular “gathering place for our youngsters and seniors” in the city. He also aims to improve public safety and lower economic crimes by increasing Cupertino’s police presence. Wong wants to bring back “sensitive governance” to city hall and make sure city staff and other public employees are working in a safe environment.

Wong also served on the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is a member of the Cupertino Library Foundation Board of Directors, Foothill-De Anza Community College District Foundation and Association of Community College Trustees Board of Directors.

Rod Sinks

Sinks, another former Cupertino mayor, serves as a board trustee for the Fremont Union High School District and will term out this November. In addition to serving as a former councilmember for eight years, Sinks has been involved in multiple environmental organizations. “I have a record of delivering results for folks in Cupertino,” he said.