J.R. Fruen
Candidate for City Council (At-Large), Cupertino · Member of the City Council, City of Cupertino
J.R. Fruen's family has deep roots in Cupertino; his grandparents bought land there in 1952, two years before the city incorporated. The first in his family to earn a four-year degree, he holds a bachelor's degree from UCLA and a law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law, and works as an attorney. He was elected to the Cupertino City Council in 2022, becoming the city's first openly gay councilmember, after an earlier unsuccessful run in 2020.
Positions in brief
Fruen says growing housing 'thoughtfully, carefully, and in a way that preserves what makes Cupertino special' and investing in the city's schools are among his top priorities.
Fruen has said he wants to grow housing 'thoughtfully, carefully, and in a way that preserves what makes Cupertino special,' noting he has 'watched close friends leave Cupertino over the years simply because they couldn't afford to stay.' He calls nurturing the city's schools 'one of the most important things a city leader can do,' and has built a reputation, in his own words, for 'doing his homework, holding firm on principle, and making reasoned decisions based on facts, data, and genuine care for the wellbeing of residents.'
On the issues
- Housing & Homelessness
Supports growing housing thoughtfully to preserve neighborhood character while keeping the city affordable for longtime residents
“grow housing thoughtfully, carefully, and in a way that preserves what makes Cupertino special”
Source → - Education & Schools
Views investing in Cupertino's schools as one of the most important things a city leader can do
“nurturing Cupertino's exceptional schools is one of the most important things a city leader can do”
Source → - Government, Elections & Democracy
Emphasizes basing council decisions on facts and data rather than politics
Source →
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