Santosh Rao
Candidate for City Council (At-Large), Cupertino · Technology Executive
Santosh Rao is a technology executive and former Amazon product manager who chaired the Cupertino Planning Commission in 2025. He says he wants city government to be efficient and accountable to residents.
Positions in brief
Rao's campaign centers on fiscal responsibility, taxpayer accountability, and business-friendly regulation, along with concerns about rising costs for police services.
Rao, who chaired the Cupertino Planning Commission in 2025 and previously worked as an Amazon product manager, describes his campaign as 'data-driven, neighborhood-first, accountable.' Reporting by San Jose Spotlight describes him as prioritizing fiscal responsibility and taxpayer accountability, opposing certain state-mandated housing projects, favoring business-friendly regulations, and raising concerns about rising costs for police services.
On the issues
- Taxes & Cost of Living
Says his focus is on protecting taxpayer dollars and holding City Hall accountable for how it spends.
“My focus is on putting residents first, on respecting our taxpayer dollars, and making sure to hold City Hall accountable”
Source → - Economy & Jobs
Says being pro-business means cutting regulations on local businesses.
“I believe that being pro-business means that we need to cut regulations for our businesses”
Source → - Housing & Homelessness
Has voiced opposition to some state-mandated housing projects during his time on the Planning Commission.
Source →
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