By Khalida Sarwari
Two candidates running for Cupertino City Council have redevelopment possibilities on their minds.
Rod Sinks is a high-tech executive and Chris Zhang is a patent attorney and businessman. Both men are concerned about an abundance of residential development in the city.
Sinks said he sees “tremendous opportunity” in Apple’s plan to build a 3.1-million-square-foot campus in Cupertino.
When then-CEO Steve Jobs announced the plan to the City Council earlier this year, he shared his vision of a curved four-story building that would house 12,000 employees, complete with a parking garage underneath and a central courtyard.
“How we choose to develop the surrounding area should come with no less vision, creating dynamic public and retail spaces for all to enjoy,” Sinks said.
Regarding the 17-acre parcel available for development adjacent to Apple’s proposed campus, Sinks said he disagrees with developer Peter Pau’s proposal to use the space for more residential and office development.
“In my view, we should be moving the other direction and pushing for more retail, not less,” Sinks said.
He said he favors a shift from residential to retail development because while residential projects are more lucrative to developers because of the high quality of Cupertino’s schools, they also place pressure on those schools.
It is a point with which Zhang would agree.
“Over-development in the city will undermine our schools and our property value,” Zhang said.
He said high-density housing is lucrative to developers because residents are willing to pay more to live in a smaller house for the schools. But, ultimately he said that would lead to overcrowding in schools and decrease property values.
Zhang said while he opposes more high-density housing projects, he supports such projects for senior citizens.
“Senior citizens do not overcrowd schools or streets, and I believe they should be taken good care of,” he said.
Sinks said his opponents Mayor Gilbert Wong, Donna Austin, and Marty Miller have taken thousands of dollars from developers or real estate investors while they were on the planning commission or City Council.
“These aren’t against the law, but I question whether a council member can be truly objective after taking these big amounts when such interests come before the city,” he said.
Sinks is interested in creating a stronger partnership between the city and its schools, bringing companies focused on innovation to Cupertino, and ensuring that the Lehigh Southwest Cement Plant is complying with air, water, and land protection laws.
He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees from Stanford University and is a co-founder of Bay Area for Clean Environment, a nonprofit focused on protecting residents from pollution.
For Zhang, his top priorities include improving schools, making Wi-Fi free throughout Cupertino, and balancing the city’s budget.
He received a degree in computer science from San Jose State University and a law degree from the University of Virginia. Aside from running a small business and a law practice, Zhang is a sailor and a private pilot and likes to read and play the guitar.
Wong, Austin, and Miller, along with Homer Tong, round out the rest of the candidates vying for a pair of seats on the Cupertino City Council.
Tong is a longtime chemistry professor at De Anza College. His priorities are to develop programs in the parks and recreation department, stimulate business growth, and make Cupertino cleaner and environmentally sustainable.
He received an undergraduate degree in chemistry from Chico State University and a master’s degree in organic chemistry from Oregon State University. Tong serves on the Fremont Union High School District Board of Trustees, and he is a soccer and basketball coach.
Austin is a retired teacher. As a member of the City Council, she says she would promote retail businesses, oversee the completion of the Stevens Creek Trail and restoration of the creek, and protect the hillsides.
She is a lector and Eucharistic Minister at St. Joseph of Cupertino Parish and an editor of a local magazine.
Miller is a businessman and planning commissioner for Cupertino. His priorities include overseeing the improvement of streets and sidewalks and traffic congestion. He would focus also on the retail sector and health and safety issues.
He holds an MBA degree from Stanford University and a computer science degree from Maryland University. Miller enjoys hiking at Rancho San Antonio and Yosemite National Park.
Wong was elected to the City Council in November 2007 and is serving as mayor. He is running for re-election to balance and manage the city’s growth, attract new businesses, and reduce traffic congestion around schools.
He received a degree in business administration from San Jose State University and is a small business owner.
On Nov. 8, voters will choose two of the six candidates as their next council members.
