The Cupertino Courier

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Kwok resigns from council, joins water district board

By Crystal Lu

Cupertino Vice Mayor Patrick Kwok has resigned from the city council after being sworn in as a board member of the Santa Clara Valley Water District. By state law, he cannot hold elected positions on two governing bodies that may have a conflict of interest.

"I'm not leaving the community," said Kwok, 66, explaining his decision was made to serve a larger population with his expertise.

Kwok, who has a master's degree in civil engineering/environmental engineering as well as a master's in public administration/public finance, worked for 23 years as chief engineer at San Jose's wastewater treatment plant. He retired in April 2006.

Kwok will work on water supply, flood protection, clean and safe creeks, environmental enhancement and open-space acquisition for Santa Clara Valley Water District 5, which includes Cupertino, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Los Gatos, Mountain View, Palo Alto and portions of Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.

Kwok said he would "take care of Cupertino's interests" in his new post and expressed his appreciation to the voters who elected him to the city council in 2001. He had the second highest vote in 2001 and the highest vote total when he was re-elected in 2005, the year he served as mayor. He was vice mayor in 2004 and 2007.

Kwok's term ends in December 2009. The city council can either fill the vacancy by appointment within 30 days or call for an election. An election can't be held until at least 114 days following Kwok's resignation.

City Clerk Kimberly Smith said the earliest an election could be set for fill Kwok's seat is Feb. 5. Smith also said the nomination period of the November election will not be extended.

Kwok's new position pays $236 per meeting.

Kwok was selected from 17 candidates to fill a vacancy left by Greg Zlotnick. His term expires in June 2008.