Cupertino City Attorney Resigns: San Jose Spotlight

By Annalise Freimarck
San Jose Spotlight

CUPERTINO, CA — One of Cupertino's top officials is leaving the city.

City Attorney Christopher Jensen submitted his resignation Thursday and said "it has been a pleasure to work with everyone at the city," according to his resignation letter obtained by San Jose Spotlight. His last day is Feb. 22 after serving more than three and a half years in the position.
Jensen's letter doesn't say why he is leaving, but notes Cupertino will continue to be well-served by city workers and the City Council.

"I am proud of everything the city has accomplished during my tenure in Cupertino," Jensen told San Jose Spotlight. "I will be rejoining the Hanson Bridgett law firm as a partner, where my practice will focus on local agency, land use and environmental law."

Mayor Liang Chao said the city has about one month to find a temporary replacement to fill the role after Jensen's departure. Councilmembers will appoint a replacement in closed session.

"Chris has served the city really well," Chao told San Jose Spotlight. "The relationship between the council and (attorney) actually has been always really present, and we have always respected his expertise."

Jensen's departure comes after the city council majority flipped with the election of Councilmember R "Ray" Wang and Vice Mayor Kitty Moore. Wang and Moore, along with Chao, changed the majority to be less development-friendly on the five-person council. Development, including the construction of The Rise at the former Vallco Mall site, has been controversial in the city, dividing residents and local officials.

Jensen sometimes clashed with councilmembers, including some on the new council majority. In December, Chao was the sole no vote against an amendment to Jensen's contract that raised his salary to $310,500 annually and increased severance pay from three to nine months.

Chao said she voted against it because she wanted to leave the door open for negotiations and had concerns about the city budget. She said the previous council majority, including Councilmembers Sheila Mohan and J.R. Fruen and former Councilmember Hung Wei, put Jensen in uncomfortable situations during council meetings.

Wei said Jensen was a valuable city worker, while Fruen commended Jensen and denied Chao's assertions. He added Jensen left when the previous council majority flipped, not before. Mohan said the city owes him a debt of gratitude for his work, keeping the city out of costly litigation.

"Chris was quite a prize for us, someone we could depend on, knowledgeable and fair," Mohan told San Jose Spotlight.

Michael Woo, senior assistant city attorney, said Jensen is a brilliant attorney with wide-ranging expertise in topics such as land use and housing.

"He was not only my friend and colleague, but also a mentor whose guidance and advice were invaluable to me and everyone in this organization," he told San Jose Spotlight. "He will be greatly missed."

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