Sunnyvale Races

Race to Watch

Mayor

Why does this race matter?

Voters in Sunnyvale, the second-largest city in Santa Clara County, will directly elect their mayor for only the second time, as the city previously appointed mayors from the City Council. Sunnyvale is planning for big growth, including a potential doubling of the housing stock to 100,000 homes over two decades.

What does a mayor do?

A mayor’s role varies from city to city. In some jurisdictions, a mayor leads council meetings, but largely has similar responsibilities as other council members: voting on city ordinances, development proposals, contracts and the budget. In San Francisco, the mayor has broader powers to sign or veto bills, oversee city departments and make appointments.

Key Candidates

This list represents the most notable candidates running for the seat.
Larry Klein
Larry KleinMayor, Sunnyvale
Russ Melton
Russ MeltonCity Council Member, Sunnyvale

Key Supporters

This list represents notable organizations and individuals who have taken a position on the ballot measure or candidate, or who are funding campaigns in support or opposition. This list is not exhaustive, and may be updated.

For Klein

  • Ro Khanna, U.S. representative
  • Otto Lee, supervisor, Santa Clara County
  • Jeff Rosen, district attorney, Santa Clara County 
  • Murali Srinivasan, vice mayor, Sunnyvale

For Melton

  • Omar Din, City Council member, Sunnyvale 
  • Bob Jonsen, sheriff, Santa Clara County
  • Sunnyvale Employees Association IFPTE/Local 21
  • Sunnyvale Public Safety Officers’ Association
 

Positions on Key Issues
Candidate summaries are based on interviews with the candidates, questionnaires, statements made at debates and public events, and past news coverage.

Sunnyvale saw less than a quarter of the needed homes built for people earning low and very low incomes from 2015–2023. Now, the city is charged with completing more than 4,500 such homes by 2031. How will you achieve this target as mayor?

Klein says Sunnyvale has been “forward thinking” with its 15% required affordable housing minimums for new developments. “I’ve been able to push our city to purchase land to make it easier for affordable housing developers to have a place to build,” he says, but notes regional funding measures will be needed, too. Sunnyvale should also explore city-funded ADU’s if they’re rented to a teacher, nurse or a public servant, he says.
Melton says he’s proud to have served on the council during votes to upzone four major portions of Sunnyvale, which include requirements on developers to include 15% of their homes as affordable. “As mayor, I’m going to make sure that those requirements for affordable housing do not change and must be adhered to.” He also wants to hire more planning staff to quickly process development applications.

Sunnyvale’s Department of Public Safety is unique in that it combines police, fire and EMT services in one unit, with cross-trained officers. The department is fully staffed with about 200 officers currently. What changes, if any, do you want to make to the DPS if elected as mayor?

Klein believes “We have a very safe city.” He’s proud to have a fully staffed department, and wants to add more officers in the next budget cycle, but says assigning officers to specific beats should be left to the chief and city manager. Getting officers the right tools to do their jobs is critical, he says, like recently approved license plate readers and the opening of a new emergency operations center last year.
Melton says, “We need more cops in Sunnyvale.” The city’s officers do an “extraordinary job,” but “overtime continues to be off the charts.” Melton suggested earlier this year to hire five more officers specifically for burglary suppression and two more for traffic, though the council majority voted to add three total officers. He also supports Proposition 36, a state ballot measure that would change some low-level theft and drug offenses from misdemeanors to felonies.

The city has recently hired a homeless services manager. How well do you think the city has done in its efforts to support its hundreds of unhoused residents, and what would you do to further address this issue, if elected as mayor?

Klein says it’s critical to get unhoused people in Sunnyvale “into county services and hopefully transitional housing and ultimately permanent housing.” He advocated bringing back a mobile laundry and shower service twice a week, to offer dignity to people in need, and to use it as a way to improve chances of connecting unhoused people to services. He’s also advocated for bringing county-run temporary warming centers to the city for the coldest days of winter.
Melton lists “coming up with sensible solutions for homelessness, without busting the budget” as a top priority. He wants to collaborate with the county and measure the success of current city efforts, like a recently approved contract with a new provider for outreach to unhoused people. He also supports Gov. Newsom’s CARE Court plan, to compel people with severe mental illness into housing or treatment. “Sometimes people don’t want to take help, even though it’s clear that they need it.”

Sunnyvale is planning for major growth, including a revamping of its Moffett Park area on the northern end of the city. What concerns, if any, do you have about the city’s trajectory over the next 20 years?

Klein says he’s been involved with the city for nearly 20 years, and has already helped shepherd long-term visions like the city’s popular downtown. Klein wants to ensure infrastructure such as water and sewer services keep up with new growth, and wants to expand a planned shuttle pilot program citywide to help seniors and students get around. He’s also advocated for more bike and pedestrian trails along major corridors aimed at reducing car traffic.
Melton says he is concerned about safely maintained infrastructure keeping pace with growth. He points to his push to ensure that water delivery lines in Moffett Park for future residents are owned by the city, not private companies. He says as the city plans for big investment near the shoreline, significant work and regional collaboration will be needed to address sea level rise, about which “there are as many questions as there are answers.”

City Council, District 2

Candidate Statements

Candidate Statements are excerpted from the statements provided to election offices, where available.

Alysa Cisneros

  • Sunnyvale City Council Member, District 2
  • Inclusivity: “Equity, access, and inclusion is now a Council strategic priority.”
  • Public Safety: “I protected the DPS budget so our officers have the tools to keep our streets safe — we’re one of the top safest cities in the U.S.”
  • Priorities: “I have a proven, bold, pragmatic track record of working hard to make housing affordable, the city environmentally sustainable, communities and roads safer, services accessible, maintaining a strong balanced budget, and finally addressing homelessness with the compassion and urgency needed.”
  • www.votealysa.com

Jim Davis

  • Government consultant 
  • Experience: “Jim has spent his entire life in government. … Upon retirement he ran for and won a seat on the Sunnyvale City Council.”
  • Public Safety: “He served on the Public Safety Committee for the California League of Cities.”
  • Collaboration: “Jim wants to hold community meetings throughout the Council district. Not so that he can make speeches but so he can hear the wants and desires of our community.”

City Council, District 4

Candidate Statements

Candidate Statements are excerpted from the statements provided to election offices, where available.

Charlsie Chang

  • Public transportation liaison
  • Collaboration: “With a lifelong career in public service, I understand the importance of engaging with and listening to our community to address the challenges we’re facing.”
  • Experience: “My career spans various issue areas and levels of government including at the county of Santa Clara, the California State Legislature, in energy, and in public transportation.”
  • Priorities: “Collaborate with all levels of government to enhance safety, advocate for our schools and students, support our small businesses, and improve transportation options so that everyone can thrive in Sunnyvale.”
  • www.votecharlsie.com

City Council, District 6

Candidate Statements

Candidate Statements are excerpted from the statements provided to election offices, where available.

Beverly Blau

  • Software engineer/parent
  • Housing: “I oppose the current plan to put townhomes at Lakehaven and Lawrence, where the New Wing Yuan grocery store is. We need more affordable housing, but we shouldn’t create a food desert in the process.”
  • Environment: “I am an environmentalist. Black plastic containers and berry clamshells can’t be recycled, so we should discourage the sale of them in our city.”
  • Child care: “I will look into ways the city can increase the number of reliable child care facilities, so waitlists won’t be six months long.”
  • www.bev4sunnyvale.com

Richard Lesher

  • CFA/army captain
  • Priorities: “It’s important to me that our city continues to offer great services while addressing affordability from mobile homes to single-family and multiunit residences.”
  • Budget: “I bring my experience in financial oversight and management. With an MBA, CEA, and two decades in financial services, I’ve administered budgets of $120 million and investments of $200 million.”
  • Experience: “As treasurer of a nonprofit of five years, I revitalized financial transparency and oversaw revenue double to $3.9 million during my tenure.”

Eileen Le

  • Sunnyvale School District Board of Education Trustee
  • Experience: “As a current Sunnyvale School Board member, I understand our families’ needs. I served on SESO as we welcomed students and staff back to campus.”
  • Collaboration: “I built relationships with federal, state, local, business, and nonprofit leaders, and I’ll leverage those relationships to bring badly needed resources to North Sunnyvale.”
  • Youth: “As a parent, our kids are my top priority. I’ll work to improve city services and recreation programs for District 6, so that our kids have the same opportunities as South Sunnyvale.”

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