Sunday Sept 8, 2024 from 3-5pm

Fundraiser with Congressman Ro Khanna and former SVCE CEO Girish Balachandran.

Join us to support Rod Sinks for Cupertino City Council and meet these extraordinary community leaders who are shaping a brighter future for our communities.

Rod Sinks

Delivering results for Cupertino

Hi there, I’m Rod Sinks, and I’m running for Cupertino City Council in November 2024. I would be honored to have your vote.

“Be Prepared” – that’s the Scout Motto. And you won’t find someone better prepared for the job of Cupertino City Councilmember. I served on the City Council for nine years from 2012-2018, and as Mayor of Cupertino in 2015. During my tenure, I delivered significant results for our residents to make Cupertino into a vibrant and welcoming city, while making sure all voices were heard in our diverse community.

Accomplishments

As Councilmember, I successfully worked to make Main Street Cupertino into a vibrant hub and generate sales tax revenue for the city.

During my tenure on the City Council, I promoted housing for teachers and families, which is vital for strengthening our schools. We built a low-income housing site for seniors and I convinced the County to invest in another site for low-income housing.

As Board Member and Chair of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, I helped secure a deal with the Lehigh Cement Plant to dramatically improve our air quality.

I introduced SV Hopper shuttles in Cupertino to serve students, seniors, and commuters, and have worked to expand the service into Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.

I’m proud to have led the charge for the creation of Silicon Valley Clean Energy, bringing us less expensive and greener electricity since 2017.

As your Mayor, I launched groundbreaking bicycle and pedestrian plans to ensure safer routes for our kids.

As a Trustee for the Fremont Union High School District, I fought to maintain electives, expand transportation options, modernize campuses, and enhance climate education.

A Proven Track Record

I have a proven track record of delivering results in a diverse range of personal and professional roles. In my professional career, I helped grow two high-tech startups into $300 million businesses. As a father, I worked extensively with local youth as a Scoutmaster and YMCA father/daughter leader. As a resident, I have held a number of leadership positions in community organizations. This breadth of experience makes me uniquely well equipped to have a positive impact on the Cupertin City Council.

Board Trustee for the Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD)
Founder and former Chair of Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE)
Co-Founder of Bay Area for Clean Environment non-profit
Former Cupertino City Councilmember and Mayor of Cupertino
Former Chair of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District
Former President of the Rotary Club of Cupertino
Chair of the Cupertino Rotary Climate Action Committee

My family and I have lived in Cupertino for over three decades. My wife Britta and I have two children, Mark and Kristina, both graduates of Monta Vista High School.

Donate to Rod's Campaign

Rod’s Priorities for Cupertino

BALANCED HOUSING GROWTH

Rod is dedicated to creating opportunities for young families, educators, and seniors to find affordable housing and build generational wealth in Cupertino. He has successfully negotiated with developers to build more affordable housing units at Vallco, got senior housing built at the Verandas, and convinced the county to invest in building mixed-income educator housing on North Wolfe Road. Rod is committed to balanced housing growth which maintains the quality of life and neighborhood character that residents cherish.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

Rod brings decades of experience in business leadership to helping Cupertino close its $30 million shortfall through new revenue sources. He will create a business-friendly environment to attract innovative companies, strengthen and diversify our tax base, and revitalize our small businesses. He will negotiate with developers to build a vibrant downtown with more shopping, entertainment, and dining options.

SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS

Cupertino residents deserve to feel safe in their homes and in their neighborhoods. Rod will prioritize working closely with local law enforcement and neighborhood crime prevention programs to deter property crimes and petty thefts and protect our quality of life.

He will work hard to make the city safe and enjoyable to walk and bike for residents of all ages, and ensure small residential neighborhoods are safe for children to play outside.

CLIMATE LEADERSHIP

Rod has decades of demonstrated climate leadership from helping to shut down the pollution from the Lehigh quarry, to co-founding Silicom Valley Clean Energy and bringing the SV Hopper Shuttle to Cupertino and surrounding cities. He will work tirelessly with neighboring cities, county, state, and regulatory agencies to safeguard our health and environment and put Cupertino on the leading edge of sensible climate stewardship.

WORLD-CLASS EDUCATION

As a parent, a community leader, and as Board Trustee for FUHSD, Rod has fostered a strong partnership with our public schools, to enable them to continue to offer a world-class and well-rounded education to our children.

He was a boy scout leader and served the community for many years as a Scoutmaster and YMCA Adventure Guides Leader and as a mentor and judge for FIRST robotics.

He is committed to continue to engage with CUSD and FUHSD trustees and students to ensure our school districts have the funding and resources they need to succeed.

A Real Thriving Downtown at Vallco

The empty lot at Vallco

The proposed new development The Rise at Vallco

Cupertino deserves a real thriving downtown with shopping, entertainment, and dining destinations. Rod will work with the developer to make sure that Vallco is rebuilt quickly with a good balance of businesses and housing, so that it can become the beating heart of our city. This will also bring a huge boost to the city’s economy through new sales tax revenue sources.

Rod was one of the councilmembers who negotiated with the Sandhill Property Company to obtain an unprecedented package of community benefits for city residents worth an estimated $121 million, in conjunction with the approval of the Vallco Specific Plan 2.

The plan was subsequently repealed by the Better Cupertino majority City Council in 2019 and all these benefits were lost. If re-elected to the City Council, Rod will work hard to again bring significant economic benefits to the city.

VALUE	NEGOTIATED COMMUNITY BENEFITS
$30 million	New 40,000 sq ft City Hall
$22.8 million	New 60,000 sq ft Performing Arts Center
$11 million	New Wolfe Rd/I-280 interchange and Tamien Innu trail
$7.8 million	10 years of funding for the SV Hopper shuttle
$2.2 million	TDM program for traffic management
$9.5 million	New FUHSD 25,000 sq ft building for Adult School
$14.5 million	CUSD unrestricted funds
$13.5 million	Value of providing 40 “Extremely Low Income” units instead of “Very Low Income”
$10 million/year	Supportive services for Extremely Low Income residents
$121.3 million	Total value of negotiated community benefits

Rod is the strongest candidate for City Council in this election. He has a proven track record of delivering for the City – increased housing, stronger schools, business-friendly policies, transportation solutions, and impactful climate measures. He will be a force for good on the City Council.

Seema Lindskog

Executive Chair, Walk Bike Cupertino

Rod’s commitment to and ability to deliver on a strong economy, great schools, and superior quality of life for Cupertino residents is evident from his achievements in his former roles. I’m proud to endorse him for City Council.

Glenn Fishler

Consultant to CEOs