CUPERTINO, Calif. (Diya TV) — Diya TV will host a Cupertino City Council candidates debate on Saturday, Sept. 19, giving voters an opportunity to hear directly from candidates competing for three seats in the November election.
The one-hour forum will begin at 3 p.m. at the Quinlan Community Center’s Cupertino Room, located at 10185 N. Stelling Road. Diya TV Founder and CEO Ravi Kapur will moderate the debate.
Five candidates have confirmed their participation: Tracy Kosolcharoen, Gopal Kumarappan, Santosh Rao, Mark Fantozzi and J.Z. Wang.
Councilmember J.R. Fruen, the only incumbent in the race, has also been invited, but Diya TV had not received a response as of publication. Candidates Seema Sharma Lindskog and John Tang informed organizers that they could not attend because of scheduling conflicts.
All eight candidates have qualified for the ballot, according to the City of Cupertino’s official election information. Voters will elect three members to the five-member City Council on Nov. 3. Fruen is seeking a second term, while the remaining seven candidates are seeking their first council terms.
Several participants already hold or have held positions in Cupertino’s civic commissions. Kosolcharoen chairs the Planning Commission, Kumarappan chairs the Parks and Recreation Commission and Rao serves on the Planning Commission. Fantozzi is a structural civil engineer, while Wang is running as an independent community candidate.
The debate comes as Cupertino voters consider competing approaches to housing development, neighborhood preservation and economic growth. Other prominent issues in the race include declining retail activity, traffic and transportation, public safety, government spending and the city’s response to state housing requirements.
The candidates will receive equal opportunities to introduce themselves, respond to questions about issues affecting Cupertino and explain their priorities for the city’s future.
The forum is intended to give residents a clearer understanding of the choices before them ahead of the election and encourage informed civic participation.
The debate will also air on Diya TV’s KAAP Channel 24.1 on Sunday, Sept. 20, at 7 p.m.
