The Cupertino Courier

Letters & Opinions

Special election? The choice is clear

The Cupertino City Council on Aug. 21 is scheduled to decide how it wants to fill the vacancy created by the recent resignation of Vice Mayor Patrick Kwok. The council has two choices: appointing someone to fill the remaining two years of Kwok's term or calling for a special election in February, which will cost approximately $50,000.

The council should opt for a special election.

The council was off on its summer break when Kwok announced he was resigning to accept a position on the Santa Clara Valley Water District board. His departure comes at a time when the makeup of the council is about to change. There are six candidates, including Mayor Kris Wang, vying for two seats on in this November's election. Council member Richard Lowenthal is termed out, so his seat on the council is wide open. Regardless of what happens in the November election, there will be at least one new face on the council. Adding an appointee to the mix represents a potential shift of three seats--a majority on the council.

The council has been working well together and Kwok hasn't represented a swing vote on major issues. The four remaining council members should be able to work effectively until a February election.

Making an appointment doesn't seem fair to the candidates who are currently going through the rigors, scrutiny and expense of a campaign. An appointee, as an incumbent, also would have an advantage in the council election in 2009.

Growth and development in Cupertino, particularly how it affects traffic, the schools and neighborhoods, have sparked initiatives and referendums on council decisions in recent years. Voters have made it clear they want a say in those kinds of decisions and in choosing the council members who make them.

The cost of a special election shouldn't be a reason not to have one. The council spends far more for improvements to the city's infrastructure. Representative government is a process, not a product, and that's what elections are for. Spending approximately $50,000 doesn't seem excessive when making sure the machinery of local government runs the way it's supposed to. Money spent on that is a good investment.