Another four candidates file for Sunnyvale City Council

Residents enter contested races for the three available seats

By Karen Kabiling

Four Sunnyvale residents took up the challenge and filed for candidacy for city council just in the nick of time. They entered the council race, along with three others who've already filed.

As of 4 p.m. on Aug. 10, the last day to file their papers, Michael Flores, Thomas Dwyer III, Ron Ayers and Judy Esteban decided to seek election for City Council Seats 1, 2 and 3.

All four first-time candidates said being able to represent the people was fundamental to their decision to run for council.

Flores, who is running for Seat 2, said the city council is actively involved in making decisions for the people, and they need to be paying attention to the people they are making decisions for.

"The people need to be telling council what to do rather than the council telling people what to do," Flores said.

It wasn't until an issue hit close to home in the last year that Flores became more involved with the community. And now he feels he will be able to represent the community. He will run against incumbent Councilwoman Julia Miller.

"I want to be the voice of the people, and I intend to be heard," he said.

Running for Seat 1 is Dwyer's first attempt to get involved with the community.

"One of my big concerns is that the council doesn't listen to the public," he said. "And that's one thing I want to do."

Dwyer admits he hasn't been too involved with the community in the past, but has recently begun to do so. He is running against current Vice mayor Fred Fowler.

Running for city council will be a learning process on getting more involved, Dwyer said, and he has begun introducing himself to the community by handing out fliers outside grocery stores and Home Depot.

Dwyer said he wants to keep the small town environment and control the growth of construction in Sunnyvale, however, he has noticed that many other candidates' records indicate contributions coming from construction businesses and from supporters outside Sunnyvale.

He said he disagrees with their actions and will not be accepting any non-Sunnyvale contributions.

"If you can't vote in Sunnyvale, you can't contribute," Dwyer said.

Ayers, who is running for Seat 3, said his heart goes out to the residents of Sunnyvale. He said he wants them to get more involved with government because they know the city more than anybody else does. He is running against Planning Commissioner John Howe.

Ayers said being involved with neighborhood associations has helped him realize people do need a voice because they just aren't aware or informed with what's going on in their community.

He believes the people are underrepresented, and that working with neighborhood associations is one way to help balance the people and government.

"I believe [the people] have insights and views that are very beneficial," Ayers said.

As a home restoration consultant in the community for 20 years, Ayers said his work has helped him know more and more people.

"I think I'm more in touch with the residents on a personal basis," he said. "I think I know the will of the residents and the hearts of them."

With family that goes back more than 100 years in Sunnyvale, Esteban, who herself has lived in the city for 48 years, can truly say she is a longtime resident.

She said she remembers when Sunnyvale was filled with cherry orchards and fields of tomatoes and apricots, which have now turned into high-tech companies.

As a candidate for Seat 2, Esteban said she hopes to preserve the neighborhood and keep it a small-town community.

With serious issues such as the crematorium, Esteban said there are many problems that need to be properly addressed.

"I don't think it was looked into too deep enough," she said. "Imposing something like allowing a crematorium in neihborhood needs to be looked at."

She said she sees Sunnyvale today, and it is mostly pavement and buildings. Esteban has been actively involved with Santa Clara County and knows what she wants to contribute to the community.

"Sunnyvale does have my heart," she said. "And I want to help do that."

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