Richard Mehlinger
CA · Vice Mayor and Member, Sunnyvale City Council, District 5
Sunnyvale vice mayor and City Council member, a software engineer who served on city commissions and worked with Livable Sunnyvale. His priorities are making the city more livable and affordable, and traffic safety for walkers and cyclists.
Where Richard Mehlinger stands, based on their records
Supports
Environment and Public Health (2 records), Housing Affordability (3 records), Civil Rights (1 record),
Opposes
Public Safety and Crime Control (1 record), Social Programs and Welfare (1 record)
Mixed record
Government Spending Reduction (1 support · 3 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Environment and Public Health
Environment and Public Health · 2 support
Moved to ban artificial turf on city property, with an exception for repairing existing turf. It failed 2-4.
August 27, 2024Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Moved to use natural grass instead of artificial turf in the Lakewood Park renovation, which passed 6-0. He also moved to bar artificial turf in new city parks, which failed 2-4.
October 24, 2023Supports Environment and Public Health
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 1 support · 3 oppose
Moved to adopt Sunnyvale's 2026-27 city budget and fee schedule. It passed 6-0.
June 16, 2026Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Moved to put a new Main Library bond measure on the November 2024 ballot. It passed 5-0.
July 30, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Moved to spend $40,000 to poll voters on a possible real estate transfer tax. It passed 6-1.
January 23, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Voted no on a $407,430 contract with HomeFirst for case management and shelter beds for homeless residents. It failed 3-4.
September 26, 2023Supports Government Spending Reduction
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 1 oppose
Moved for the city to support Proposition 34, a state measure limiting how some health providers spend drug-sale revenue; it failed 3-3. Voted no on the city supporting Proposition 36, which allows felony charges and longer sentences for some drug and theft crimes; it passed 4-2.
September 24, 2024Opposes Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Track record — Housing Affordability
Housing Affordability · 3 support
Seconded and voted for raising the moving aid landlords must pay tenants in no-fault evictions to three months of rent. It passed 5-2.
February 25, 2025Supports Housing Affordability
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Moved to adopt Sunnyvale's 2023-2031 Housing Element, the state-required plan for new homes. It passed 7-0.
December 12, 2023Supports Housing Affordability
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Moved to raise the housing fee on new office and research buildings to $11.50 per square foot for the first 25,000 square feet and $23 after that; it failed 2-5. At the same meeting, moved to drop a lobbying-platform line urging the state to avoid housing laws that remove local control; that failed 3-4.
January 24, 2023Supports Housing Affordability
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Track record — Social Programs and Welfare
Social Programs and Welfare · 1 oppose
Voted no on a $407,430 contract with HomeFirst for case management and shelter beds for homeless residents. It failed 3-4.
September 26, 2023Opposes Social Programs and Welfare
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 support
Moved to adopt a city policy barring the use of city property for civil immigration enforcement and offering immigration resources to residents and businesses. It passed 7-0.
April 7, 2026Supports Civil Rights
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 3 support
Moved to shift $2 million from the city's pension trust payment into reserves and the infrastructure fund. It failed 2-4.
December 9, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Moved to remove one southbound car lane on Mathilda Avenue to add a buffered bike lane. It passed 5-0.
October 21, 2025Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Moved to put a new Main Library bond measure on the November 2024 ballot. It passed 5-0.
July 30, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Track record — General
General · 4 records
Moved to place three City Charter amendments on the November 2026 ballot. It passed 7-0, and he co-wrote the ballot arguments in support with Mayor Klein.
June 23, 2026
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Was selected by the City Council to serve a one-year term as Sunnyvale vice mayor.
January 13, 2026
Source: content.govdelivery.com
Moved to end a 2017 council rule that kept street parking on Fair Oaks Avenue, opening the street to redesign. It passed 7-0.
July 29, 2025
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Moved for the city to formally oppose the statewide Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act ballot initiative backed by the California Business Roundtable. It passed 7-0.
April 25, 2023
Source: legistar.granicus.com
Past race Richard Mehlinger ran in:
- Member, City Council, District 5 · November 3, 2026 · Sunnyvale city, California · incumbent