The Cupertino Courier

Letters & Opinions

Kwok leaves council, not the community

By Patrick Kwok

On Aug. 7 at the regular board meeting of the Santa Clara Valley Water District, I shall be sworn in to serve the balance of the term in District 5, representing the cities of Cupertino, Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Saratoga, Monte Sereno and portions of San Jose and Sunnyvale, as well as Stanford University campus. This is the position recently vacated by Greg Zlotnick.

While I wish I could continue to serve in two elected positions, the attorney general has ruled that the city council and the board of directors for the Santa Clara Valley Water District are incompatible offices. The California Government Code further precludes this.

Regrettably, I have to resign from the Cupertino City Council .

I am very honored and privileged that the Santa Clara Valley Water District board of directors unanimously appointed me from a pool of 17 well-qualified candidates. I feel that I am qualified and have the legislative and technical experience to face the many challenges at the water district given my professional civil engineer and city council background. With more than 30 years of experience in water resources management, I know that I can be a positive influence on water policy and major water decisions that impact Santa Clara County.

This decision was not an easy one. When I applied I did not know the outcome, but saw an opportunity to share my expertise in water resources management, especially during this crucial time when water supply is a major concern at the local, state and federal level. I knew that accepting the position would mean relinquishing my role as a council member, which I have enjoyed for almost six years. After much thought and the support of my family and local elected officials, I made the tough decision to leave the city council.

While it is difficult to resign, I am very proud of the accomplishments during my tenure on the council. It was great to see the completion of the Cupertino Library, revitalization of the Vallco Fashion Mall (Cupertino Square), an improved quality of life, more green buildings, parks and open spaces and the continued excellence in education and public safety.

I must say that this is one of the best councils in Cupertino's history. Without a doubt, we have worked as a team to make Cupertino a better place to live. I will miss serving with my fellow council members and would like to thank them for a wonderful experience. To mayors Dr. Michael Chang, Sandra James, Richard Lowenthal and Kris Wang, who served with me during my tenure on the council, thank you very much for your strong leadership.

To city manager David Knapp, city attorney Charles Kilian and the entire senior staff, thank you for your support throughout the years. I also want to express my appreciation to the businesses and retailers and the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce.

To the residents of Cupertino as well as parishioners at St Joseph of Cupertino Church, thank you very much for your support and input. I encourage you to stay engaged. To the Asian community and Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute (APALI), thank you for your inspiration to serve our community.

As always, I am still committed to making Cupertino a better place to raise our families. I am continuing to serve the residents and businesses in Cupertino as well as the entire Santa Clara County to ensure that we are protected from flooding, our water is clean and safe, and that there is enough water for our families and the future generations to come.

Patrick Kwok is the former mayor and city council member