In 1964, Carmen Montano made the big move with her family of seven from Central Valley to Milpitas. In the city's early developments, the newly booming automobile assembly industry presented employment opportunities that Carmen's Dad took to secure his family's well-being. Rose Montano, Carmen's Mom, believed in her family and invested in her seven children, building their wealth through knowledge and experience rather than economics. 

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 At the tender age of seven, Carmen began contributing to her family's income by picking walnuts and cutting apricots at the Weller Ranch. These early struggles, unique to her immigrant family's experience, instilled in her a sense of responsibility and resilience. Despite the challenges, Carmen cherishes these moments as they shaped her into the woman of change and leadership she is today.

    In her 20s, Carmen was deeply troubled by her neighborhood's, Sunnyhills, invisibility from the city, during the 1980s recession and its aftermath. Cut off from the city's services, Sunnyhills was vulnerable. Carmen, who had a deep connection to the community, growing up and feeling safe there, wanted to give Sunnyhills the same in return. She  co-founded the Sunnyhills Improvement Association, a non-profit committed to restoring and revitalizing Sunnyhills. Her work was a precursor  to her lifelong commitment to driving meaningful change, always with a focus on equity and empowerment for all.

Mayor Montano is a versatile and tenacious leader with decades of dedicated service to the community of Milpitas. Her career began as an educator, where she passionately promoted the needs of students through support in the classrooms. She later worked for city commissions, including parks and rec, where she focused on preserving the city and its natural landmarks and being a familiar presence in communities to promote connections and hear their voices. In 2010, Carmen was privileged to become the first Latina woman in the Milpitas city council. She expanded her impact from her neighborhood to the city, taking office as Council Woman. Finally, Carmen entered the Mayoral office for 2022-2024, making significant strides to foster an interconnected and inclusive city. Her dedication to the community is unwavering, and she remains committed to ensuring all residents have an opportunity to address their needs in the public office. We work towards a Milpitas that values communion, growth, and inclusion. Join us in re-electing Mayor Montano; together, we will stay the course for a better Milpitas!