Keep Sunnyvale City Council rolling on the right track

After four years of discord, the Sunnyvale City Council has in the last two years returned to civility in its workings and taken strides toward restoring the city’s status as a well-run city.

This is no time for a major change of course. Voters should re-elect incumbents Gustav Larsson in Seat 1 and Mayor Glenn Hendricks in Seat 2. In Seat 3, Councilman Jim Griffith is termed out after serving eight years on the council. We recommend that Sunnyvale elect promising newcomer Mason Fong, who is well-versed on city issues and would bring much-needed diversity to the council.

Sunnyvale’s successful, strategic approach to its finances make it the envy of many of its Bay Area counterparts. But it is still struggling with trying to solve development, housing and transportation challenges. Larsson, Hendricks and Fong are like-minded candidates who offer Sunnyvale the best chance to make thoughtful decisions on keeping its downtown project moving and improving the city’s housing stock.

Seat 1

Larsson’s experience, knowledge and ability to listen make him the choice for Seat 1 over challenger Henry Alexander III. Larsson, a former member of the planning commission, has been a strong advocate for market-rate and affordable housing in Sunnyvale and has the clearest idea of how to address what is one of the region’s most pressing issues.

Larsson voted to add the Village Center concept to the city’s general plan and backs efforts to build more housing near Sunnyvale’s Caltrain stations and along El Camino Real. All told, the projects could produce more than 5,000 units when completed.

Alexander has been a leader in the Ray-Nor Park Neighborhood and a member of the city Parks and Recreation Commission for the past six years. But his strong opposition to further development is not in the long-term interests of Sunnyvale.

Seat 2

Hendricks deserves kudos for his efforts to maintain and improve Sunnyvale’s longterm financial sustainability. A past chair of the council’s finance committee chair, he has worked to make sure the city is positioned to meet its pension obligations. He believes that one of the key components for doing so relies on continuing to develop office space in the Moffett Park Area. Hendricks’ experience as a planning commissioner prior to being voted onto the council will be vital in balancing the city’s need to add more housing while not destroying the small-town feel of its neighborhoods.

Hendricks’ opponent, Josh Grossman, says that Sunnyvale’s development has gone off the rails. But he wants to increase the city’s below market rate requirements to a degree that would seriously threaten needed projects.

Seat 3

Fong’s youth — he turns 27 on Oct. 15 — may give voters pause. But his lifelong interest in politics, intelligence and ability to absorb and articulate solutions to Sunnyvale’s complex issues give him the edge over challenger John Cordes.

Fong has the potential to be a political standout. He gained invaluable experience working for Reps. Mike Honda and Ro Khanna and as the housing and transportation policy analyst for respected San Jose City Councilman Chappie Jones. Fong’s views are a good match with the current council, and if he is elected, he would be the only nonwhite member of the council in a city that is 45.5 percent white and 43.3 percent Asian.

Cordes is a dedicated environmentalist, but his approach to growth does not bode well for his chances of being an effective councilman.