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Los Altos City Council, District 2

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City of Los Altos

Los Altos City Council, District 2

This person would hold one of Los Altos's five City Council seats. They vote on city laws, the budget, and land use. Los Altos is a Santa Clara County city of about 31,600 people. The five Councilmembers together pick one of their own as Mayor each December. They also pick a Vice Mayor. November 2026 is the city's first district-based council election. This seat represents this district specifically, not the whole city as in past cycles. The term is four years, with a two-term limit.

Two candidates are running for this open Los Altos City Council seat. Anky van Deursen is a first-time candidate and a 35-year District 2 resident. Lynette Lee Eng is a former Mayor. She was termed out two years ago and wants to return. Whoever gets the most votes wins outright. There is no runoff.

This is Los Altos's first district-based City Council election, forced by a 2024 notice alleging the city's old at-large system violated the California Voting Rights Act. District 2 (the Grant Park area) and District 4 vote this November; Districts 1, 3, and 5 follow in 2028. Each of the city's five Councilmembers serves a 4-year term and is term-limited to two terms; the council selects one of its own as Mayor and Vice Mayor each December. Los Altos has about 31,600 residents.

Van Deursen has never held office; her professional background is in housing and mediation. Lee Eng has considerably more governing experience — two terms on the council (2016–2024) including a stint as Mayor, 11 years as a Parks Commissioner, and two terms on the county's Civil Grand Jury — but she also lost her most recent election (a 2024 bid for the El Camino Healthcare District board, where she placed fourth of four candidates for three open seats), and her council record includes a real, unresolved controversy: a five-month public dispute in 2020–2021 over remarks a local racial-justice activist called racially charged, discussed below.

Anky van Deursen

Anky van Deursen is the City of Mountain View's Housing Manager. She has lived in Los Altos for 35 years. She started her campaign on August 30, 2026, drawing more than 50 supporters. Her priorities include traffic safety near schools, housing for teachers and seniors, and local shops. She was asked about Measure D, a downtown parking plan on the ballot. She said she does not have a position on it.

Lynette Lee Eng

Lynette Lee Eng served two terms on the Los Altos City Council. She served from 2016 to 2024 and was Mayor for one term. In 2020, she voted against a police reform proposal. She said texts from activist Kenan Moos made her fear for her family's safety. Moos, who leads the group Justice Vanguard, said this falsely painted him as a threat. Many residents asked her to apologize over the next five months. A records request found no messages beyond what she had already cited. A mediation ended in April 2021 without resolution, and she never publicly responded. In 2024, she ran for the El Camino Healthcare District board. She placed fourth of four candidates for three seats, with 16.15% of the vote. She has not held elected office since. She now says she wants to return with "listening first and leading with integrity." She supports thoughtful growth, transparent government, and fiscal responsibility.

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A nonpartisan office: candidates do not run as Democrats or Republicans, and no party appears on the ballot.

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