Pick Vaidhyanathan, Mahoney, Wei for Cupertino Council

Cupertino is renowned for its schools, diversity and being home to Apple Inc., the company that is synonymous with innovation and Silicon Valley. The city also has a reasonably strong financial position compared to other California cities. But for all of its strengths, Cupertino’s 60,000 residents have been sharply divided for more than a decade on issues connected to growth — namely housing, transportation and the future of the 58-acre Vallco site located in the heart of the city.
Voters need to elect council members who can bridge that divide and make progress attracting more affordable housing for workers and creating more walkable neighborhoods. Three positions are open in the citywide elections. We recommend incumbent Savita Vaidhyanathan, former councilman Orrin Mahoney and Fremont Union High School District board member Hung Wei.
The effort to sharply curb growth in Cupertino is not in the city’s long-term economic interests. Nor will it help Cupertino do its part to help solve the region’s housing and transportation challenges.
Vaidhyanathan, who in 2016 became the first Indo-American mayor in the city’s history, understands the need for balanced development. She voted to approve the Tier 2 development agreement for the dying Vallco Shopping Mall, which would bring nearly 3,000 residential units within a mile of Apple’s new campus. She has supported the Oaks development that would bring more housing for senior citizens while working to make the developers add more community amenities to the project. Vaidhyanathan was a leader in the effort to institute the RYDE program that offers curb-tocurb service for Cupertino’s seniors. She also worked to bring the pilot POGO project to Cupertino High School, a mobile application that facilitates parent carpooling.
Mahoney’s return to the political scene is welcome.
He previously served on the Cupertino Planning Commission from 1991-99 and on the council from 2006-14, experience that will allow him to hit the ground running if elected. He is a good listener whose understands the need to selectively add to the city’s housing stock while protecting existing single family neighborhoods’ look and feel.
Wei is a great candidate who would a bring a breath of fresh air to the council. Her outgoing, can-do approach is contagious, which is reflected in her impressive list of endorsements across the political spectrum. She is highly regarded for her work on the Fremont Union High School District board since 2007. Wei wants to collaborate with Apple on transportation and establish a transit hub at the Oaks. She also supports the Tier 2 plan for Vallco and work to ensure that new developments dedicate 20 percent or more of housing to below-market and moderate-income housing.
One other candidate, current Mayor Darcy Paul, is a solid option. He is thoughtful, and his dedication to the city is unquestioned. But his leadership skills are lacking, particularly when it comes to solving the Vallco challenge.
Tara Sreekrishnan’s background as a community organizer in Berkeley shows potential, but she does not have sufficient experience to serve as a councilwoman. Liang Chao is smart and experienced. But she is one of the key leaders of the effort to curb Cupertino’s growth and strongly opposes the Vallco agreement. Robert McCoy did not participate in our editorial board sessions. Tim Gorsulowsky is perhaps the most intriguing candidate, given his past experience as a mortician, insurance broker and security business owner. But he lacks experience in political office or holding a significant appointed position in Cupertino.
Vaidhyanathan, Mahoney and Wei are the best candidates to help drive Cupertino’s future. Voters should elect them Nov. 6. Election 2018

From https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/10/05/editorial-cupertino/