Cupertino, CAVoter Guide 2026 · not a ballot

Cupertino City Council · Nov 3, 2026

J.R. Fruen

Candidate for City Council (incumbent)

8 candidates · 3 seats17 sourced positions

J.R. Fruen, the incumbent, is running for Cupertino City Council in the Nov 3, 2026 election; 8 candidates are running for 3 seats.

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Today

Councilmember since 2022, seeking a second term. Attorney. Vice President of the Cities Association of Santa Clara County.

Endorsed by
Assemblymembers Patrick Ahrens and Alex Lee, State Sen. Josh Becker, Supervisor Margaret Abe-Koga, Councilmember Sheila Mohan and nine former Cupertino mayors. Candidate statement, Aug 2026
How the press groups them
Part of the Cupertino Together slate: J.R. Fruen, Seema Sharma Lindskog and John Tang. San José Spotlight · Aug 22, 2026
Campaign website
cupertinotogether.org/jr-fruen

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At the Sept 19 candidate forum hosted by Diya TV, J.R. Fruen, Seema Sharma Lindskog and John Tang cited scheduling conflicts and did not attend. Diya TV forum report · Sep 22, 2026

Where J.R. Fruen stands: positions on the record

Housing2 sourced positions

  • Voted yes to adopt the Housing Element (passed 3-1-1, May 2024).

    Council voteCity Council minutes · May 14, 2024

  • Cites winning state approval of Cupertino's housing plan (Housing Element) and expanding housing for teachers, seniors and young families.

    “I expanded housing for teachers, seniors, and young families–while keeping our small-town feel–by winning state approval for Cupertino's housing plan.”

    Own statementCandidate statement, Aug 2026

The Rise (Vallco)2 sourced positions

  • Voted yes to waive affordable-housing and planning fees for The Rise as part of a fee settlement (passed 4-1, July 2024).

    Council voteCity Council minutes · Jul 16, 2024

  • Cupertino Together slate platform (Fruen, Lindskog, Tang)

    Slate calls for finishing Vallco as a downtown with dining, retail and housing, and negotiating with developer Sand Hill Property Co.

    “We’ll sit at the table with Sandhill and negotiate a good deal for the city.”

    Own statementCupertino Together website (accessed Sep 30, 2026)

Budget and taxes6 sourced positions

  • Cupertino Together slate platform (Fruen, Lindskog, Tang)

    Slate platform: grow and diversify revenue through a 10-year growth plan instead of raising taxes on residents.

    “Grow and diversify the city’s tax revenue instead of increasing tax on residents by creating and implementing a 10-year growth plan.”

    Own statementCupertino Together website (accessed Sep 30, 2026)

  • Says he helped negotiate the state sales-tax settlement that saved the city millions and secured a balanced budget.

    “I helped negotiate a state tax deal that saved our city millions securing a balanced budget.”

    Own statementCandidate statement, Aug 2026

  • In March 2026, as a councilmember, asked that resident polling on a possible utility users tax increase gauge what tax rate residents would accept.

    “Maybe people are only okay with 2.4%. Maybe we even discovered that 2.4% is too much for folks right now. I think it’s worth finding out where the pressure point is.”

    Own statementSan José Spotlight · Mar 19, 2026

  • Voted no on placing a 10-year extension of the 2.4% utility users tax on the Nov 2026 ballot (passed 3-2, July 2026).

    Council voteCity Council minutes · Jul 7, 2026

  • Voted no on the FY 2026-27 operating budget (passed 3-2, June 2026).

    Council voteCity Council minutes · Jun 16, 2026

  • Voted no on the council resolution opposing the county's Measure A sales tax (passed 3-2, Oct 2025).

    Council voteCity Council minutes · Oct 13, 2025

City Hall and governance5 sourced positions
Retail and business1 sourced position

  • Cupertino Together slate platform (Fruen, Lindskog, Tang)

    Slate retail plan: cut permitting red tape, incentivize retail clusters, pop-up storefront program, relocation help for displaced businesses.

    “Provide relocation assistance to businesses being displaced by new developments.”

    Own statementCupertino Together website (accessed Sep 30, 2026)

Streets and traffic1 sourced position

  • Cupertino Together slate platform (Fruen, Lindskog, Tang)

    Slate traffic plan: strengthen SV Hopper shared rides, implement transportation demand management plans for big developments like Vallco, and Vision Zero.

    “Implement TDM plans (Transportation Demand Management) for big developments like Vallco to reduce traffic.”

    Own statementCupertino Together website (accessed Sep 30, 2026)

What J.R. Fruen said vs. how J.R. Fruen voted

Budget and taxes

In their words

On the record

City Hall and governance

In their words

On the record

Also running for City Council

All 8 Cupertino candidates →

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