The filing period to run for city council ends Aug. 8.

Two seats are open, as the terms of Mayor Michael Chang and Councilman Richard Lowenthal end in November, but because of term limits, only Lowenthal can run.

Council members serve four-year staggered terms, each with a two-term limit.

The city council directs the course of local government through its power to pass ordinances, levy taxes, award contracts and appoint certain city officers and commissions.

Council members earn a salary of $618.85 per month and receive medical insurance.

Candidates must be registered voters in the city and obtain signatures of at least 20 registered voters on a nomination form.

Five individuals—Lowenthal, Barry Chang, Kris Wang, Deborah Barrett and Don Borrego—have pulled the application forms, but only Lowenthal had filed by press time.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact the city clerk at 408.777.3217.


Community forum on Aug. 9 at St. Jude

The Courier presents "A Time to Talk: A Cupertino Forum" on Aug. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Jude's Church.

The public is invited to participate in a candid discussion about the changing demographics in Cupertino.

The facilitator will be Shawn Spano of the Public Dialogue Consortium. Spano says, "Through our earlier work in Cupertino, a process has been developed to create a comfortable environment for people to express themselves. Our goal in this forum is to take the dialogue to the next level."

St. Jude's Church is located at 20920 McClellan Ave.

For information, contact The Courier at 408.200.1000.