Richards would bring his business outlook to city

By Allison Rost

A childhood spent on his family's farm in the United Kingdom taught Pete Richards, 61, the value of small government and working hard. Ten years ago, he started his own Sunnyvale business, Nut n Bolt Guy, which supplies parts for industrial construction. He believes his experience as a business owner has taught him how to solve the city's financial troubles.

"We need to freeze hiring and go though the natural attrition of employees until we can reduce the payroll," he says. He admits there are specialized positions that must be replaced but insists that employees cost the city too much.

He says, "$186 million is more than enough for this city. We've got to cut spending."

He's following his own advice with his campaign—instead of raising tens of thousands of dollars, he plans to spend $500 on fliers and make up the difference by personally going around to Sunnyvale neighborhoods to campaign. "I think I'm like most people in that special interests really upset me. I'm doing no fundraising," he says.

Richards entered the race for City Council Seat 4 late, and accordingly has no endorsements to show, but his candidacy was prompted by recent council discussions on city finances. "I wasn't planning to run, but I firmly believe that this city needs no new city taxes," he says.

He's spent the last four years, on the Sunnyvale Housing Commission, sometimes clashing with his colleagues. "I've always been a small-business man, and that's quite a different voice on the housing commission," he says. His involvement with the commission came about due to his community service with area seniors, for which he was nominated as Sunnyvale's Citizen of the Year award.

His experience with the housing commission has made him a fan of the high-density housing and shopping complex at Santana Row, which he wants to bring to the former Sunnyvale Town Center in an effort to revitalize downtown. He also wants to make city council more accessible to the public by holding coffee klatches once a week, with discussion open to everyone.

Richards is the father of three, and his daughter and two grandchildren live in Sunnyvale. "I love Sunnyvale, and my ultimate goal is to make Sunnyvale a better place." He hopes his unique background, including his British accent and his nickname "Mate," will remind Sunnyvale voters to give him a shot come Election Day. "People remember me because of my accent," he says. "There are a million Petes. There's only one 'Mate.' "

Pete Richards

Age: 61

Occupation: Business Owner

Education: AA degree Los Angeles Trade School

Community Involvement: Four years on the Sunnyvale Housing and Human Service Commission. Family: Divorced with three children and three grandchildren.

By Pallavi Somusetty

Dean Chu has had his sights set on local government for more than 30 years. He was born into a family involved in local and national politics.

His sister Judy Chu is a U.S. Congresswoman and represents the 49th Assembly District in San Gabriel Valley. Until recently, his other sister Dorothy was the president of her teacher's union in Southern California.

Now Chu, a Sunnyvale resident for 14 years, is carving out a name for himself in the community by running for City Council Seat 4.

Chu, a second-generation Californian, started in politics when he joined student government, serving as a class officer for three years and then as senior class president in a high school in Santa Clara. He also actively volunteered with local nonprofits, often alongside his mother.

In college Chu majored in political science, specializing in public policy, and then went on to earn an MBA in finance. He worked as a banker making loans to businesses all over the state for more than 20 years.

Chu quit the lending business more than a year ago to spend more time with his wife, Wilma, and their two adopted daughters, Liane, 4, and Keri, 18 months, but continues to work as a financial analyst for his parents' real estate company in Santa Clara.

Despite his commitments, Chu is ready to join the council. "I'm at a point in my career where I can spend the time that is necessary to be an effective city council member."

Chu believes his professional qualifications and experience give him the expertise to tackle the city budget, a controversial issue for many residents because of service cuts. Having read hundreds of financial statements over the past 20 years, Chu is not intimidated by the dense budget.

According to Chu, most of the cuts were unnecessary. "I don't believe the council was given the right information," says Chu. "One thing that wasn't explained very well is where the city's operating expenses have grown over the last several years."

Chu believes that certain areas of the city's expenses have grown dramatically in the last three years. "We should examine those areas for cuts before we make cuts to public safety," Chu says.

Having served on the planning commission for the past four years, Chu helped move the downtown plan forward, which he believes will revitalize the city's economy.

But Chu is concerned over a recent request to increase housing on the Town Center Mall property. "I'm not sure the area can take much higher density than what's already been approved," Chu says.

Chu envisions a city of "community and commerce, where residents and business work together to make Sunnyvale the best city to live, work, shop and play."

Dean Chu

Age: 47

Occupation: Financial analyst

Education: MBA Finance, Golden Gate University, BA political science, UC-Berkeley

Community Involvement: Currently serves as planning commissioner. Member of the Leadership Sunnyvale Board of Directors, the Sunnyvale Rotary Club, the Sunnyvale Historical Society, and the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce. Liasion for Families with Children from China, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter.

Family: wife and two daughters