The 2024 Los Altos City Council Candidates Forum will be hosted at the Los Altos Community Center Grand Oak Room this Wednesday, September 25. The public forum will be hosted from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., where candidates will present their personal statements and answer questions. The five candidates will be running for three open seats. 

Below is a brief rundown of each candidate’s background and campaign, with the information taken from their campaign websites and candidate statements:

Larry Lang

Campaign highlights: Housing, cultural preservation, following regulations more closely

Lang’s campaign is focused on preserving the culture and natural serenity of Los Altos, while taking advantage of the technology found in Silicon Valley. He believes that one of the best ways to do this is by supporting small businesses, especially as our culture shifts towards online shopping. Lang also believes that Los Altos should follow state and federal laws more closely, to prevent spending millions on penalties and lawsuits. 

“Los Altos is always seeking a careful balance: Enjoying prosperity through vital connections with the valley, the state, and the world beyond, while also preserving a haven for our family, friends, and neighbors,” Lang wrote on his campaign website. “Serving Los Altos by listening to diverse voices and collaborating to find the best balance is why I’m running for City Council.”

Outside of politics, Lang worked at Cisco Systems in various positions and has led several startups. 

For more information on Lang’s campaign, visit losaltoslary.org.

Sally Meadows

Campaign highlights: Budgeting, public safety, cultural preservation, electrification 

Meadows is running for her second term on the City Council, having been a board member for the last four years and Mayor in 2023. Similarly to Lang, Meadows intends to correct certain policies to eliminate unnecessary spending. 

“I’ve fostered a collaborative, respectful, and effective Council,” Sally said on her campaign website. “We have adopted forward-looking solutions and corrected policies and practices that were not serving us well anymore.”

She believes that ending unconstructive lawsuits and adopting better financial policies will help contribute to her goal of a budget surplus in 2024–2025. She has plans of continuing the effort towards affordable housing, traffic circulation and safety, and developing Downtown Los Altos while preserving the history and culture of the area. 

Before entering politics, Meadows served as a pharmaceutical and biotechnology marketing executive. 

For more information on Meadows’ campaign, visit sallyforlosaltos.com.

Jonathan Weinberg

Campaign highlights: Budget, housing, public safety, social justice, environmental issues

Weinberg currently serves as the Mayor of Los Altos and has been a member of the City Council for the last four years. Since 2015, he has been an active participant in local government, advocating for efficient use of public funds to achieve a budget surplus for the City Council. He believes that this surplus could be redirected to critical areas such as public safety, infrastructure, and enhancing civic life in Los Altos. Weinberg also hopes to improve policing in the city by increasing transparency and fostering stronger community relations, while ensuring that law enforcement has the resources it needs to keep residents safe. 

“I believe our police department is honorable and does an excellent job protecting the public, but societal standards change and law enforcement must adjust its methods and training to meet changing expectations,” Weinberg wrote on his campaign website. 

Lastly, Weinberg’s vision for Los Altos includes incorporating green initiatives into city programs. Through supporting higher-density housing, installation of solar panels, and coordinating with experts, he aims to develop a comprehensive plan to fight climate change. 

Outside of politics, Weinberg is a partner with a law firm.

For more information on Weinberg’s campaign, visit weinbergforcouncil.com.

Eric Steinle

Campaign highlights: Housing, land development

Appointed to the Los Altos Planning Commission in 2020 and currently serving as its chair, Steinle has plenty of experience surrounding the physical development of Los Altos. 

“I have the expertise and experience to negotiate the turbulent conditions of housing and land use policy in California,” Steinle wrote in his candidate statement. 

Since 2018, he has reviewed development projects and advocated for residential issues such as zoning and parking. Steinle worked on the Los Altos Housing Element in 2023, which is responsible for addressing the demands of housing types to meet the city’s growing social and economic development. A major goal of his campaign is to expand the city tax base through commercial development and to redevelop public facilities, such as the library. 

Outside of politics, Steinle is an attorney. 

Eric Steinle does not have a campaign website; information was pulled from his 2024 Candidate Statement.  

Ibrahim Bashir

Campaign highlights: Housing, public safety, emissions, cultural vibrancy, education and mental health

Bashir says that he will advocate for housing development next to major roads, retail areas such as downtown, and mixed-use development around existing retail establishments. 

“We have a great community, but lack the cultural institutions and facilities to take advantage of it,” Bashir wrote on his campaign website. “We should work with the business community to create opportunities for us to gather in person, and keep our dollars local.” 

He is also a strong advocate for affordable housing which he hopes to improve, especially for important members of the community such as teachers and first responders. To address public safety, Bashir hopes to hire more detectives to investigate crimes such as thefts and burglaries. He also intends to raise funds to improve bike lanes for street safety. 

As for education and mental health, Bashir aims to support student mental health by working with small businesses to build supportive communities, building off of cities like Palo Alto. 

Outside of politics, Bashir currently serves as the vice president of product management at the software development company Amplitude. 

For more information on Bashir’s campaign, visit bashirforlosaltos.com