Cupertino council majority shifts commission appointments

The political tides in Cupertino are shifting again, exciting some residents while worrying others.

The Cupertino City Council appointed more than 20 commissioners out of more than 50 applicants on Jan. 27-28, many of whom support the council’s new, less development-friendly majority. The appointments reflect a continued political shift in a city often divided on hot-button issues such as development and growth.

The new majority on the five-person council, solidified in a tight race in November, includes Mayor Liang Chao, Vice Mayor Kitty Moore and Councilmember R “Ray” Wang. The trio have historically taken less development-friendly stances and used their majority vote to appoint some residents with similar views who supported their political campaigns. The appointments included positions on the Planning, Parks and Recreation, Bicycle and Pedestrian, Arts and Culture, Housing, Library, Public Safety and Sustainability commissions. These commissions serve primarily in advisory roles to the council and each commissioner typically serves a four-year term.

Chao said the council majority’s decisions aren’t unusual.

“The commissions serve at the pleasure of the city council,” she told San José Spotlight. “In the past, the city council has always appointed commissioners that align with their policy directions. This year is no different.”

The council appointed Gopal Kumarappan, Sheela Sreekanth and reappointed Seema Swamy to the parks and recreation commission. Kumarappan supported Wang and Moore in their council campaigns last year. He also works with Better Cupertino, a resident activist group often opposed to development that backed Wang and Moore.

Kumarappan said he plans to prioritize the youth and older adults while on the commission.

“This power shift is absolutely going to bring some change in Cupertino, and I’m sure the community will feel it,” he told San José Spotlight. “I’m going to watch and I’m going to question (the majority). You get a great opportunity, you better use it.”

The council majority appointed Gerhard Eshelbeck and Munisekaran Madhdhipatla and reappointed Ilango Ganga to the bicycle and pedestrian commission. Madhdhipatla supported Wang and Moore in the last election cycle. The council also reappointed former Cupertino Mayor Steven Scharf and appointed San Rao and Tracy Kosolcharoen to the planning commission. Scharf endorsed Moore and Wang.

Some residents are concerned about the effects the appointments could have on the city because the council majority’s supporters now hold the majority on several commissions.

Cupertino resident Jennifer Shearin was previously on the parks and recreation commission and served as chair last year. Shearin didn’t run for reappointment because she said she knew she wouldn’t get it due to her beliefs that don’t align with the council majority.

Shearin’s concerned about the chilling effect the appointments could have on city growth, adding she wants the best for the city regardless of who’s appointed. Shearin said these positions matter, even if they’re only advisory, because they can influence big projects such as the city’s 10-year active transportation plan.

“We really don’t know whether or not things like that, which will improve the quality of life for all of our residents, will continue to move forward or will be mired down in a lot of these anti-growth issues,” Shearin told San José Spotlight.

Councilmember J.R. Fruen, now in the council minority with Councilmember Sheila Mohan, said the appointments speak to more than just aligned values with the majority.

“It does appear to me that the vast majority of the applicants who were chosen were chosen on the basis of their loyalty to individual members of the city’s council and to the Better Cupertino coalition, not necessarily because of their specific merit,” he told San José Spotlight.
Chao said the commissions aren’t about shifting politics.

“It’s important that the commissioners serve the needs of the residents, not the needs of whatever advocacy groups they belong to,” she said. “Public resources should be used for public goods.”