October 5, 2022
By the Daily Post staff
Three incumbents on Mountain View City Council have a big lead in fundraising and only face one serious challenger.
The three incumbents have individually raised amounts in the $20,000-$30,000 range: Ellen Kamei reports $28,587, Mayor Lucas Ramirez has raised $27,702 and Vice Mayor Alison Hicks has brought in $20,623.
Their challenger is Tesla finance manager Li Zhang, who reported $7,761 in donations this year, as of Sept. 24.
Not raised any money
Tesla engineer Justin Cohen, 24, hasn’t raised any money, according to campaign finance forms.
The Mountain View firefighters union gave Zhang her largest donation – $1,000 – and endorsed her campaign.
Zhang is also backed by William Lambert, a school board member for the Mountain View Whisman School District who gave her $500.
Kamei is supported by Assemblyman Marc Berman ($250), Assemblyman Evan Low ($500), Palo Alto Councilwoman Alison Cormack ($500), Valley Water Director Gary Kremen ($1,000), Mountain View Whisman school board members Devon Conley and William Lambert ($250 and $500), Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitain ($250), Palo Alto school board candidate Nicole Chiu-Wang ($250) and East West Bank in Pasadena ($1,000).
Kamei’s mother Rosemary Kamei, who was just elected to San Jose City Council, contributed $503.26 in food for a campaign kick-off. Ramirez is supported by retired state Senator Jerry Hill ($500), school board member Ellen Wheeler ($100), Los Altos council candidate Pete Dailey ($100), Palo Alto council candidate Lisa Forssell ($250) and Assemblyman Evan Low ($500).