The Cupertino Courier

George Sakkestad

Incumbent Don Burnett, center, celebrates another City Council victory with Marilyn Howard and Rich Robinson.

Voters fill three Council seats

By Pam Marino

John Statton, Sandy James and Don Burnett were the winners in the Cupertino City Council election Tuesday.

Statton, the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, won first place handily with 3,507 votes. Statton had one of the most organized grass roots campaigns of the five candidates. He also outfundraised and outspent the other four candidates. However, Statton said Tuesday night that it was the organization that made the difference.

"It just showed if you have a great team of people working with you, really good things can happen," Statton said.

The surpise of the evening came when Sandy James outdistanced incumbent Don Burnett for second place. James had 3,155 votes to Burnett's 2,838. James, a human resources consultant, did not have the same grass roots organization that both Statton and Burnett had, but she did have recognition in the community for her work on the Cupertino Union School District board.

"I ran consistently on my experience, my reputation and my integrity," James said Tuesday night.

She said she stressed to voters that she would transfer the skills she used on the school board, as well as the contacts she developed statewide, as a city councilwoman.

Burnett said he was a little surprised he came in third. But he said he expected to lose support from his recent vote in support of leasing Cupertino's water utility. He also said he thought some voters held it against him that he voted for numerous housing projects over his four-year term. He said he does not regret his votes on either issue; he said he still believes the water lease is good for the city, and he said Cupertino needed to make up for a shortfall in housing.

"I'm happy to have won, and I congratulate the other two candidates," Burnett said.

Andrea Harris was tired and disappointed at her fourth-place finish, with 2,417 votes, and said she was not sure if she would run again in two years.

"The calibre of the candidates was so outstanding, so the city will be well served," Harris said. Harris still retains her position as chairwoman of the planning commission.

Steve Haze, who came in fifth with 1,732 votes, could not be reached for comment. It was his fourth unsuccessful attempt for a City Council seat.

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