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Incumbent Drew Combs is facing challenger Vamsi Velagapudi, a Menlo Park Finance and Audit Commission member and retired strategic consultant, to represent District 2 on the Menlo Park City Council. The district encompasses the Willows, Flood Triangle, Suburban Park and Lorelei Manor neighborhoods.
Combs, a director in Meta’s product risk department, has served on the City Council since 2018.
To help voters see where they stand on key issues, The Almanac sent a questionnaire to all six City Council hopefuls running for three district seats on the Nov. 3 ballot. Each candidate was asked to answer if they favor or oppose six policies and to rate the city on eight areas.
Candidates were allowed to provide brief explanations, to explain their answers if necessary. The responses have been lightly edited for style and clarity.
Both Combs and Velagapudi oppose Measure P, which would require voter approval for developments on the downtown parking lots, and support eliminating the city’s automated license plate reader contract. Combs and Velagapudi disagree on how the city has performed on many issues including managing its budget, responding to state housing mandates and equitably distributing resources.
District 2 is facing significant impacts from several major redevelopment projects in the Linfield Oaks neighborhood, across Middlefield Road from the Willows. The biggest is Willow Park, the controversial mixed-use high-rise project at the former headquarters of Sunset Magazine on Willow Road. The development includes buildings up to 39 stories high, 665 housing units, a 130-room hotel, over 300,000 square feet of office space, plus retail space and a preschool.
Neighbors are concerned that the development, which is on the border of District 2, could exacerbate traffic congestion on Willow Road. The City Council warned it is prepared to cut city services to fight a lawsuit filed by the developer over delays to the project.
Combs is the only incumbent seeking reelection this year. Councilmember Cecilia Taylor and Mayor Betsy Nash did not run again to represent District 1 and District 4, respectively. Two newcomers are seeking to succeed them in each district.
See the answers of all candidates below:
Visit The Almanac’s 2026 Election Center to learn more about the local races on your ballot.
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Guest opinion: For Menlo Park's Measure P or not for P, that is the questionOctober 4, 2026 11:02 am
