One mid-sized West Valley city’s council race is raking in cash, in what some residents are dubbing a high-stakes election with divisive housing issues on the table.
The Cupertino City Council race has brought in about $222,000 among seven candidates vying for two seats in a city of about 60,000 residents, according to election data from January to Sept. 21.
Cupertino removed its campaign spending limits this year, which allows candidates to spend as much as they want. Money is still coming in from pro-development and anti-development residents trying to cement their choices.
At the top of the leaderboard is former Cupertino Mayor Gilbert Wong, who has close to $80,000. But $60,000 of that is from personal campaign loans from Wong. He is trying to fundraise enough money to help repay his loans, with less than 30 days until the election. Some of his higher-profile contributors include Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee, state Sen. Josh Becker and the San Jose Water Company, who donated $500, $500 and $250 respectively.