|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Ahead of a pivotal election in Menlo Park, The Almanac is hosting a candidate forum for the Menlo Park City Council on Thursday, Oct. 8. All six candidates have agreed to attend the forum, which is open to the public and will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, located at 751 Laurel St.
For those who can’t attend in person, the forum will be livestreamed on YouTube and a recording will be available afterward, thanks to assistance from Midpen Media Center. RSVP to receive the livestream link and event reminders here.
Candidates are set to make their case to voters in an election where the top issues include housing development, city finances and transportation as they seek to represent residents of districts 1, 2 and 4.
District 1 includes Belle Haven; District 2 covers Flood Park and the Willows neighborhood; and District 4 includes downtown Menlo Park, Allied Arts and parts of central Menlo Park.
District 1 and District 4 incumbents Cecilia Taylor and Betsy Nash are not running for reelection. District 2 Councilmember Drew Combs, the only incumbent in the race, is seeking a third term.
James Rohr and Wonman Lee are running for the District 1 seat, while Charlotte Reed and Laura Melahn are running for the District 4 seat. Vamsi Velagapudi is challenging Combs in District 2.
The forum will be moderated by Almanac Editor Andrea Gemmet and Reporter Arden Margulis. Readers can submit questions for the forum here.
The Almanac has launched its 2026 Election Center, which includes detailed information about local races and measures on the November ballot.
Embarcadero Media Foundation, which publishes The Almanac, has dropped the paywall from AlmanacNews.com through Nov. 6 to make local news accessible to all readers. The foundation also is launching its “Unlock Nonprofit News” campaign in hopes of raising enough donations to lower the paywall permanently.
Big issues await newly elected members of the City Council, as Menlo Park grapples with major development proposals and state housing mandates while managing uncertain state funding and the city’s structural deficit.
Also on the ballot is Measure P, which would block the City Council’s plans to build affordable housing on three city-owned downtown parking lots. It would require the city to seek voter approval for any development of the downtown parking lots identified in the measure.
Another big decision looms on the fate of the former Sunset magazine campus. The California Attorney General’s Office has warned Menlo Park that it may be violating state law by delaying consideration of Willow Park, a proposed development at 80 Willow Road that’s evoked fierce opposition from local residents over its massive scope. Developer N17 has proposed several mixed-use high-rise buildings, including one as tall as 39 stories.
Congressman Sam Liccardo has called for an investigation and sanctions against the 80 Willow’s reported owner, a Russian national with close ties to the Kremlin. If Menlo Park doesn’t approve the project, the city may be subject to costly legal action.
Visit almanacnews.com/election/ to stay updated on local election news and races affecting Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley and Woodside.
Most Popular
Police: Mountain lion sightings reported in Palo Alto, near Sand Hill RoadSeptember 25, 2026 1:26 pm
Congressman calls for feds to investigate, sanction Russian owner of Menlo Park development siteSeptember 24, 2026 11:32 am
