Cupertino City Council candidate Hung Wei announced today that she is suspending her re-election campaign to concentrate on her recovery from stage 4 lung cancer.

At a night press conference in Cupertino, Wei said she would “fully support” her running mate Rod Sinks, who, just like the council member, is captivated with “solving the most pressing issues facing Cupertino families.”

Wei, who was diagnosed with cancer in June, plans to concentrate on completing her term in the approaching months and prioritize her health.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision, but one I must make in order to prioritize my health,” said Wei, whose first term on the City Council ends in November. “I remain optimistic and hopeful about the future and am committed to continuing to move forward in Cupertino. For now, however, I must focus on regaining my strength and finishing my term on behalf of our residents.”

Wei previously told the Bay Area News Group that she wanted to make use of her re-election as a chance to “finish the work we started four years ago,” including constructing more housing, public facilities and reliable mass transit in town.

“I'm so grateful to be surrounded by my friends in Cupertino,” Wei said tonight, joined by family, friends and city leaders. “This is my home.”

Wei said she may potentially run for a City Council seat in 2026. For this upcoming election cycle, nonetheless, she’s going to support Sinks, a former Cupertino mayor who serves as a board member for the Fremont Union High School District and whose term ends in November. Sinks describes Wei as a “servant leader” whose presence on the City Council might be missed.

“Her heart is always with the community, she listens carefully to everyone and tries to represent everyone,” Sinks said.

Sink's priorities, if elected, include leveraging the retail and residential opportunities on the Vallco site to create a vibrant downtown. He also desires to strengthen town's tax base and shut its $30 million revenue gap by promoting a business-friendly environment. He also wants to scale back traffic in town by expanding town's Silicon Valley Hopper service and creating safer bike and pedestrian paths.

Originally published: September 17, 2024 at 19:06