Cupertino City Council candidate Hung Wei announced today she is suspending her reelection campaign to focus on her recovery from Stage 4 lung cancer.
At an evening press conference in Cupertino, Wei said she is putting her “full support” behind fellow candidate Rod Sinks, who shares the councilmember’s passion for “addressing the pressing issues facing Cupertino families.”
Wei, who has had cancer since June, plans to focus on finishing her term and prioritizing her health in the upcoming months.
“This has been an incredibly hard decision but it is one that I must make to prioritize my health,” said Wei, whose first term on the council ends in November. “I remain optimistic and hopeful about the future and am committed to Cupertino’s continued progress. However, for now, my focus must shift toward regaining my strength and finishing my term on behalf of our residents.”
Wei previously told the Bay Area News Group that she wanted a chance at reelection to “finish the work we started four years ago” including bringing more housing, public amenities and reliable transportation to the city.
“I’m so grateful that I’m surrounded by my friends in Cupertino,” Wei said this evening, surrounded by family members, friends and city leaders. “This is home.”
Wei said she could potentially run for a council seat in 2026. For this upcoming cycle, however, she will endorse Sinks, a former Cupertino mayor who serves as a board trustee for the Fremont Union High School District and will term out this November. Sinks describes Wei as a “servant leader” whose presence will be missed on the council.
“Her heart is always in the community, she listens well to everyone and she tries to represent everyone,” Sinks said.
Sink’s priorities if elected include taking advantage of retail and housing opportunities on the Vallco property to create a vibrant downtown. He also wants to strengthen the city’s tax base and close their $30 million revenue gap by fostering a business-friendly environment, and reduce traffic in the city by expanding the city’s Silicon Valley Hopper service along with implementing safer bike and pedestrian routes.