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The Almanac will host a forum tonight, Oct. 8, at 6 p.m. featuring all candidates running for Menlo Park City Council.
The forum will be held at the Menlo Park City Council Chambers at 751 Laurel St. and livestreamed on YouTube. A recording will be made available after the forum.
All six candidates on the Nov. 3 ballot for Districts 1, 2, and 4 seats said they plan to attend.
District 1 includes the Belle Haven and Bayshore neighborhoods; District 2 covers the Suburban Park, Flood Triangle, Lorelei Manor and Willows neighborhood; and District 4 includes downtown Menlo Park, Allied Arts and parts of central Menlo Park.
Two of the races are for open seats, as District 1 and 4 incumbents Cecilia Taylor and Betsy Nash did not seek reelection.
In District 1, retired cybersecurity professional James Rohr and software engineer Wonman Lee are vying to replace Taylor.
Singer and communications professional Charlotte Reed and venture capitalist and Menlo Park Finance and Audit commissioner Laura Melahn are running to replace Nash in District 4.
In District 2, Menlo Park Finance and Audit commissioner Vamsi Velagapudi is challenging two-term incumbent Drew Combs.
A number of big issues are facing Menlo Park’s City Council this fall. San Francisco Developer N17 is suing the city for allegedly unlawfully delaying its controversial Willow Park high-rise development at 80 Willow Road. The Willow Park plans call for several towers as high as 39 stories that include 665 residential units, 332,000 square feet of office space, a 130-room hotel and retail space and a childcare facility at the former headquarters of Sunset Magazine.
Also on the ballot is Measure P, a citizen’s initiative that would require voter approval for development and major alterations of city-owned parking lots in downtown Menlo Park. The measure was brought by residents and business owners concerned about the potential impacts of the City Council’s controversial plan to build over 300 affordable housing units on three of the eight downtown parking lots.
Check out The Almanac’s 2026 Voter Guide to learn more about the candidates and other local races in this November’s general election.
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