Local politics takes ugly turn after Cupertino council candidate receives death threat

CUPERTINO CITY COUNCIL candidate Claudio Bono is used to the city’s polarization, with neighbors and officials often split over issues — but he never thought he would receive a death threat.

Bono, area general manager of The Cupertino Hotel and one of seven council candidates, found a note on his car parked at home that read, “Quit race or die” about two weeks ago. He said he almost laughed it off until his campaign team advised him to take it seriously. He told City Manager Pamela Wu about the threat Thursday and reported the incident to the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office on Friday.