2026 Fall Recruitment
HRC, PRC, PTC Appointments
Presenter:
Mahealani Ah Yun, City Clerk
Christine Prior, Assistant City Clerk
October 5, 2026 www.PaloAlto.gov
Human Relations Commission (HRC)
• 2 Full Term Vacancies and 1 Partial Term Vacancy
• Interviewed Candidates:
• Aji Oliyide
• Cynthia Wood
• Ellen Bob
• Haylea Hannah
• Katie Causey
• Raizel Rosenberg
• Sunny Dykwel
Planning and Transportation Commission (PTC)
• 1 Partial Term Vacancy
• Interviewed Candidates:
• Christopher Kao
• Jeff Watt
• Tom Siegel
VACANCY INFORMATION
2 Parks and Recreation Commission (PRC)
• 4 Full Term Vacancies
• Interviewed Candidates:
• Abhijit Solanki
• Aubrey Whitcomb
• Ben Lenail
• Bing Betty Wei
• Leo Hochberg
• Marc Schoenen
• Shani Kleinhaus
• Sterling Watson
• Virginia Ruiz Albacete
• Each Councilmember has 1 vote per vacancy
• 4 votes are needed to appoint a candidate
• Additional rounds will be conducted to break ties if needed
VOTING PROCESS
3 2 Full Term Vacancies (11/1/2026 - 10/31/2029)
Aji Oliyide: Burt, Lauing (2)
Cynthia Wood: (0)
Ellen Bob: (0)
Haylea Hannah: (0)
Katie Causey: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (7) Raizel Rosenberg: Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (5) Sunny Dykwel: (0)
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION – FULL TERM
4 1 Partial Term Vacancy (11/1/2025 - 10/31/2028)
Aji Oliyide: Lythcott-Haims (1)
Cynthia Wood: (0)
Ellen Bob: Lauing, Reckdahl, Veenker (3)
Haylea Hannah: Burt, Lu, Stone (3)
Katie Causey: (0)
Raizel Rosenberg: (0)
Sunny Dykwel: (0)
Tie breaker vote between Ellen Bob and Haylea Hannah required.
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION – PARTIAL TERM
5 4 Full Term Vacancies (11/1/2026 - 10/31/2029)
Aubrey Whitcomb: Lauing, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl (3)
Virginia Ruiz Albacete: Lauing, Lu, Stone (3)
Abhijit Solanki: Burt (1)
Sterling Watson: (0)
Shani Kleinhaus: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (7) Ben Lenail: Burt, Reckdahl, Veenker (3)
Marc Schoenen: Lauing, Lu, Stone, Veenker (4)
Leo Hochberg: Burt, Lythcott-Haims, Reckdahl (3)
Bing Betty Wei: Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Stone, Veenker (4)
Tie breaker vote between Virginia Ruiz Albacete, Ben Lenail, Leo Hochberg, Aubrey Whitcomb required.
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
6 1 Partial Term Vacancy (4/1/2026 - 3/31/2030)
Christopher Kao: Lythcott-Haims (1)
Jeff Watt: (0)
Tom Siegel: Burt, Lauing, Lu, Reckdahl, Stone, Veenker (6)
PLANNING AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
7 1 Partial Term Vacancy (11/1/2025 - 10/31/2028)
Ellen Bob: Lauing, Reckdahl, Veenker (3)
Haylea Hannah: Burt, Lu, Lythcott-Haims, Stone (4)
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION – PARTIAL TERM – ROUND 2
8 1 Full Term Vacancy (11/1/2026 - 10/31/2029)
Aubrey Whitcomb: Burt, Lythcott-Haims (2)
Ben Lenail: Reckdahl, Veenker (2)
Leo Hochberg: (0)
Virginia Ruiz Albacete: Lauing, Lu, Stone (3)
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION – ROUND 2
9 1 Full Term Vacancy (11/1/2026 - 10/31/2029)
Aubrey Whitcomb: Lythcott-Haims, Burt (2)
Ben Lenail: Reckdahl (1)
Virginia Ruiz Albacete: Lauing, Stone, Lu, Veenker (4)
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION – ROUND 3
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