Cupertino politician drops reelection bid

A Cupertino incumbent is dropping out of the City Council race to focus on her health, leaving an open seat in November.

Councilmember Hung Wei suspended her campaign Tuesday to prioritize her health after battling stage four lung cancer since June. She will finish her term through December before leaving Cupertino politics for the time being. She said her nearly four years on the council have been one of the most rewarding experiences of her life, but she needs to focus on getting better.

“I always say when life gives you different cards, you run with it,” she told San José Spotlight.

Wei, first elected in 2020, leaves a crowded race with candidates including her colleague Councilmember Kitty Moore, former Mayors Rod Sinks and Barry Chang, former Planning Commissioner R “Ray” Wang, Foothill-De Anza Community College District Trustee Gilbert Wong and Cupertino Chamber of Commerce Board Vice President Claudio Bono all vying for two seats on the five-person council. Cupertino elects councilmembers at large, meaning voters can chose from all candidates rather than just those running in their political district — the more common method used by nearby cities such as Campbell and Sunnyvale.

Wei said she is endorsing Sinks because of their mutual values and donated $5,500 to his campaign, the maximum campaign contribution an individual can give.

Sinks said he met Wei about 20 years ago. He said they sometimes met at each other’s houses to play mahjong after tough political times, although he wasn’t skilled. He’s grateful for her support and credits her with advancing the city’s housing plan civilly.

“You never hear her trying to go on the attack or speak ill of other people,” he told San José Spotlight. “She’s always, if there’s a disagreement, focused on the issues.”

Wei’s time on the council hasn’t been without contention. Cupertino finalized plans earlier this year for The Rise, a divisive development of more than 2,600 homes on the former Vallco Mall site. Wei has supported multiple aspects of the project, including its affordable homes and waivers removing about $77 million in developer fees.

The city was also saddled with a roughly $15 million deficit after losing Apple sales tax revenue last year. Wei voted in favor of a plan to reduce city services that saved Cupertino about $9 million and almost balanced its budget for fiscal year 2024-25.

Cupertino resident Donna Austin, who has lived in the city for about 50 years, said Wei was a good mayor — which she said is few and far between in Cupertino. She added she wished Wei would have endorsed Bono in addition to Sinks.

“She was totally a successful mayor in what she’s done,” Austin told San José Spotlight. “Now she has to take care of her health and that’s No. 1, but she was great for the people and she was everywhere in our community… that’s the kind of person she is.”

Wei has been politically active in Cupertino for years, since moving there in 1990 after leaving Taiwan to pursue a master’s degree at University of California, Los Angeles in 1979. She served as a Fremont Union High School District trustee from 2007 to 2018 and was president of the Rotary Club of Cupertino. She received the Woman of the Year Award in California Assembly District 28 in 2015.

Wei’s decision doesn’t mean she’s ruling out Cupertino politics forever. She said she could reenter the political scene as early as 2026, if her health permits.

Mayor Sheila Mohan said she’s ready for Wei when she feels up to returning. She said Wei campaigned for her and was sometimes almost late to council meetings because Wei was working on the campaign.

“I’m confident (for) when she comes back ready to run again,” Mohan told San José Spotlight. “Some of these issues will still be there (for her).”

Wei said she looks forward to her potential political return.

“I look forward to the day when I can rejoin you in the work of building Cupertino’s bright future,” she said in a statement. “Until then, I will hold close the pride of what we have accomplished together and remain hopeful for the days ahead.”

Contact Annalise Freimarck at [email protected] or follow @annalise_ellen on X, formerly known as Twitter.