Who is Russ

Russ Melton is an experienced City Councilmember who works well with others to get things done for the people of Sunnyvale. Recognized for his service and leadership, Russ Melton has a track record of success on the City Council and in the private sector.

Experienced Public Servant

  • Elected to Sunnyvale City Council in 2016
  • Russ served as Sunnyvale Vice Mayor in 2019
  • Russ serves as Board Chairperson for the Santa Clara Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO), a State oversight agency chartered with ensuring efficient delivery of government services and the preservation of open space and prime agricultural farmland. Russ also serves as Board Chairperson of the Silicon Valley Regional Interoperability Authority (SVRIA), owner and operator of the radio network used by all police and fire agencies in the County. Russ also serves on the Santa Clara County Airport Land Use Commission (ALUC) and the League of California Cities (LCC) Revenue & Taxation Committee
  • Prior to Council, Russ served on the Planning Commission for 4+ years where he was selected three times by his colleagues to serve as Chairperson

Professional Leadership

  • Russ earned an MBA from Santa Clara University
  • Honorably discharged from the United States Navy
  • Graduate of Leadership Sunnyvale

Education Advocate

  • Russ’ children attend public high school in Sunnyvale
  • Russ previously served on the Parent-Student Advisory Group and previously served as President of the School Site Council
  • He and his wife Sami are raising two children in Sunnyvale, his home since 2000

Silicon Valley Expertise

  • Born and raised in Palo Alto, Russ has a high-tech corporate background
  • Executive VP and COO at National 1st Credit Union
  • Senior Finance Manager at National Semiconductor. Worked for five years in mergers and acquisitions, driving strategic transactions involving complex negotiations and legal frameworks. Worked for three years in Tokyo, Japan.

In my spare time, I enjoy coaching and refereeing youth soccer, and I collect historic California license plates.

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    Russ Melton and his wife, Sami.
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    Russ Melton, Board Chairperson of Santa Clara LAFCO, speaks at an event, June 2023
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    Russ Melton at Moffett Federal Airfield, September 2022
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    Russ Melton speaks on air with KPIX-5 about short-term rentals in Sunnyvale, May 2023
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    Russ Melton with Santa Clara Unified School District Board Member Jodi Muirhead at the school district’s Peterson Middle School farm site, October 2022
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    Russ Melton takes a break with Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein and Mountain View Councilmembers Lisa Matichak and Margaret Abe-Koka during Bike to Work Day, May 2019
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    Russ Melton chats with NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine (C) and NASA Ames Research Center Director Eugene Tu at Moffett Field, June 2019
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    Russ Melton gives a speech at the Sunnyvale State of the City event, September 2019. Photo Credit: Bruce Paton
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    Russ Melton takes in a tour of the new Educational Options Center at Fremont High School, October 2019.
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    Russ Melton with Saurabh Netravalkar, Captain of the United States national cricket team, May 2019.
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    Russ Melton with Col. Taft O. Aujero, Wing Commander, 129th Rescue Wing, Moffett Air National Guard Base, November 2019
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    Russ talking with constituents, 2016.
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    Russ Melton, during a Leadership Sunnyvale class, behind the wheel of a Sunnyvale Dept. of Public Safety emergency response vehicle, January 2012
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    Russ Melton refereeing a Sunnyvale AYSO youth soccer game, circa October 2011.
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    Russ Melton coaching Sunnyvale ASYO youth soccer, 2016.
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    Russ Melton being interviewed by local media, November 2019.
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    Russ Melton with “Darth Vader,” April 2018.
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    Russ tries his skills cooking eggs at a McDonald’s grand opening, January 2020.
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    Russ at the opening of the all-inclusive playground at Ponderosa Elementary School, October 2019
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    Russ and his son check out a new section of hiking trail near the Water Pollution Control Plant, September 2018
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