With a trio of incumbents finishing out their first term on the Sunnyvale City Council, several candidates are vying for their spots as the city looks ahead to dealing with controversial housing developments, improving transportation and public safety services.
Incumbent Alysa Cisneros is competing against former Vice Mayor Jim Davis for the District 2 seat, while Councilmember Russ Melton of District 4 will run for mayor against incumbent Larry Klein. Councilmember Omar Din of District 6 is running for a seat on the California State Assembly in November.
District 2
The District 2 candidates for Sunnyvale City Council are Jim Davis and Alysa Cisneros.
District 2 encompasses neighborhoods and areas in downtown Sunnyvale near West El Camino Real.
Alysa Cisneros
After spending four years on the council, Cisneros, 37, is ready to serve four more. ” I want to continue to represent and work for renters, young people and families who have had less of a voice on the council,” she said.
Cisneros’s priorities include improving the productivity of transit services and the city’s response to homelessness. She also wants to boost Sunnyvale’s affordable housing stock and communicate with developers and community members to determine the best projects.
District 2 holds the city’s vibrant downtown, and Cisenero said she’ll continue making the area a business-friendly environment. She plans to maintain “good relationships” with the city’s Chamber of Commerce and coordinate with neighbors on downtown events.
Some of her work on the council includes successfully advocating for building more multi-family housing units, and improving Sunnyvale’s response to homelessness by involving the expertise of nonprofits and homeless services.
Jim Davis
Davis, 72, a former vice mayor, wasn’t planning on running. But when several residents asked if he could consider running for the District 2 seat given his extensive experience working in city government, Davis decided he throw his name in the hat.
Davis top priorities include pouring more resources into Sunnyvale’s public safety services, and monitoring the city’s budget to make sure the money is “efficiently used.” As the city continues to rezone downtown properties to make room for high-density housing project, Davis said he wants to “keep watch” and work with organizations to preserve retail establishment.
The former police officer said he also plans on holding monthly meeting with his constituents to hear their issues and concerns.
“I have knowledge of government and how it works,” he said. “I can take their issues and work with that and make (a solution) happen.”
District 6
The District 6 candidates for the Sunnyvale City Council include (left) Beverly Blau, Richard Lesher and Eileen Le. (Courtesy Photos)
District 6 includes northern area of Sunnyvale, and incorporates several neighborhoods north of Highway 101 near Moffett Field. Some of the neighborhoods include El Dorado, Plaza Del Ray and Casa de Amigos Mobile Home Parks, Lakewood and Morse Park.
Eileen Le
As someone who is constantly out and about in the Sunnyvale community, Le, 37, believes she has the insight to be the next District 6 representative.
Le aims to promote community safety by advocating for completed bike and walk routes to school and an accessible system to report hate incidents. Le also wants to preserve local mobile home areas for residents, and explore safe parking solutions for residents living in cars or RVs. She hopes to maintain ecological-friendly areas and green spaces in Sunnyvale for residents to utilize.
Le serves on the Sunnyvale Education Foundation and is a trustee on the Sunnyvale School Board. Her advocacy work includes expanding VTA access for local high school students and creating more diverse board representation.
“I am a current elected official, so I know what the job entails,” Le said. “Outside of the board, I’ve been going to other meetings and advocating for my current constituents.”
Richard Lesher
Lesher, 52, believes he has the experience needed to be a city councilmember. The financial analyst and Army Reserves Captain said he understand the “numbers and business aspect” needed to manage tax payer dollars and can work with individuals and diverse groups of people.
Lesher’s priorities include helping the city hire more police officers, retain veteran cops and improve crime prevention programs. He also wants to find ways to bring more “desirable retail” options to District 6 in lieu of a new housing developments at nearby Moffett Park, and initiate study sessions on how taxpayer dollars are distributed across the districts.
“There’s a perception that District 6 isn’t getting its fair share in tax payer investment,” he said. “We disproportionately have much fewer grocery stores and are potentially going to lose stores because of a new development.”
Lesher serves on the Sunnyvale Personnel Board and was a board member on the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps.
Beverly Blau
When Blau, 39, decided to run for a council seat, she didn’t have a platform figured out. So she knocked on neighbor’s doors, and listened to their concerns with the city.
Now, some of her priorities include making sure north Sunnyvale is able to keep its local grocery stores and restaurants, which are expected to be removed in a proposed city plan to turn underdeveloped sites into housing developments. Blau also wants to address environmental issues in Sunnyvale, and prevent companies and businesses from distributing one-time-use materials that cannot be recycled, including takeout containers, black plastic and plastic wrap and bags.
“I’m interested in honesty, fairness and dignity for all,” she said. “and making sure the city is doing the right thing so our resources will last for future generations.”
Blau holds a Ph.D. in Medical Physics from the University of Chicago and has been working as software engineer for the past 10 years. She previously served on the Anaheim Union High School District Board of Trustees.
Charlsie Chang — a 31-year-old Sunnyvale Board of Library Trustee and a member of Sunnyvale’s Community Emergency Response Team — is running uncontested for District 4, which spans the eastern areas of South Sunnyvale near the Cupertino and Santa Clara border, and borders parts of South Wolfe Road and Interstate 82.
Her top priorities include pushing for policies that support Sunnyvale’s public safety, increasing resident’s access to reliable public transportation and making the area more affordable for renters.
“I have the experience and knowledge and drive to better our residents,” Chang said. “I really want to hear from residents to tackle their issues that they want to see addressed.”