An Open Letter

Hello!

I’m Richard Lowenthal and I’m writing to ask you to support my re-election to the Cupertino City Council this year.

I want to continue to serve the city on the Council so that I can do more to help make Cupertino a great place to live, work, and raise kids.

I have the experience to do the job. I’m a former Mayor of the city and have been on the Council since 1999. I’ve served on the city’s Audit Committee, Economic Development Committee, and Environmental Review Committee. I have represented the city at the Association of Bay Area Governments and in Sacramento. I continue to be Cupertino’s representative at the Santa Clara County Cities Association. I’m also on the following boards:

Cupertino Community Services – Vice President
Fremont Union High School District Foundation – Vice President
Santa Clara County Library system – Vice Chair
Cupertino’s Lunar New Year Unity Parade – Co-chair
Santa Clara County YMCA’s – board Secretary
Cupertino Rotary – board Secretary
Cupertino National Bank
Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority

Before my work for the community, I worked for 24 years in high tech.  I was involved in starting and growing several Silicon Valley companies and have held executive positions at Cisco, StrataCom, Convergent Technologies, and Stardent Computers.  I've managed groups as large as 450 people.  In 1997 I left high tech to devote time to our community.

I want to continue my work on behalf of kids and education in Cupertino. I was instrumental in initiating teacher home rental and home ownership programs in Cupertino. I have worked hard through the High School District Foundation to preserve the high standards of our local high schools through tough economic times. I have put in long hours to bring our new library to fruition, and to continue its reputation for leading the nation in library services. I worked hard to initiate the building of our first teen center in Cupertino. There is more to be done.

I want to work to ensure that we have a conservative growth policy that addresses the affordability of homes for people in Cupertino. I was passionately involved in the 24-unit CCS affordable housing project, and voted to have our progressive 15% inclusionary zoning. We need to continue to work to make the city affordable for teachers, fire fighters, police officers, and our children. On the other hand, our residents have clearly told us that we need to slow down the growth and height of development and we should make that part of our new General Plan.

Finally, I have the experience necessary to build consensus and unite our community.  With all the growth and change that Cupertino has absorbed, we need leaders who can represent all the people of Cupertino.

If you believe that these tough economic times require experienced leadership; If you believe that education and our kids are vital to our future, and if you want careful balance of preserving Cupertino while making it affordable to our teachers and others who work here, please support my re-election.

Thank you,