Craig Gleason, the incumbent Ward 1 director on the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District Board of Directors, seeks a second term in the Nov. 3 general election. He faces Tina Marie To, according to the district’s official list of qualified candidates.
Ward 1 includes Cupertino, Lexington Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga. Palo Alto is included in Wards 2 and 5, according to the district’s ward information.
Asked why he is running in the Palo Alto Ledger candidate questionnaire, Gleason described his progression from open space advocate to board member.
“My primary interest in this work lies in striking the right balance between preservation and access,” he said. “I’m now seeking a second term to continue that work.”
Candidate information
Residence: Gleason said his family has lived in Los Gatos since 1995.
Education: He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1984.
Family: Gleason and his family enjoy hiking and dog walking, and he also mountain bikes. His wife and younger daughter ride horses. His older daughter lives in Southern California and had his first grandchild this year.
Party affiliation: Gleason said he is registered with the Democratic Party and has received the Democratic Party of Santa Clara County’s endorsement. The Midpen board race is nonpartisan.
Experience and public service
Gleason has served on the Midpen board since 2023, according to the district’s website. He said he also serves on the Los Gatos Parks and Sustainability Commission.
His career in computer chip design and automation began in 1984 and included management and technical leadership roles at Hewlett-Packard, Synfora and Synopsys. He co-founded Synfora in 2003; Synopsys acquired the company in 2010. Gleason said he retired from Synopsys in 2025.
He volunteers with Midpen, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority, Grassroots Ecology and Santa Cruz Mountains Trail Stewardship.
On the issues
Preservation and access: Gleason supports accessible trails and projects that combine ecological restoration with outdoor recreation. On his campaign website, he said he supports fulfilling Measure AA’s “Old Trees, New Trails” vision.
Trail policy: On his campaign website, Gleason advocates for multi-use trail policies, including trails shared by hikers and bikers or hikers and equestrians. He also supports improving trail traffic flow to reduce high-speed crossings.
Differences from his opponent: Gleason cited his first term, working relationships with board members and familiarity with the district’s preserves. Before joining the board, he said, he attended most board meetings for roughly two years and frequently spoke during those meetings.
“I’m very familiar with the preserves, having hiked or ridden all of Midpen’s trails,” he said.
First-term accomplishments: Gleason said he has brought greater attention to trail experience and accessibility. He pointed to the easy-access trail at Bear Creek Redwoods, which he described as under construction when he submitted his response, as an example of those themes appearing in district projects.
“I’ve been able to bring attention to topics such as trail experience and accessibility that were not generally being discussed,” he said.
Best advice: “When you’re advocating with someone, don’t forget to ask how you can help them too.”
This profile draws primarily on Gleason’s responses to the Palo Alto Ledger candidate questionnaire, with additional information from district records and his campaign website. Responses have been excerpted and paraphrased; direct quotations retain his wording.
