Mayor Carmen Montano

  1. Biography

    Carmen has strong roots in Milpitas. She and her family have lived in Milpitas since 1964. She attended Abel and Curtner Elementary schools, Russell Middle School, Samuel Ayer, and Milpitas High School.

    Carmen is a semi-retired teacher with 26 years of experience under her belt. She continues to teach and contracts with several districts in the county including Milpitas Unified School District. She also served as the City of Milpitas’ Vice Mayor from 2014-2016.

    Serving the community is her passion and was instrumental in establishing two successful Family Resource Centers – Sunnyhills and Randal Elementary School. In 1991, she and Bob Pecot, a community activist (deceased) co-founded The Sunnyhills Improvement Association, which is now called the Sunnyhills Neighborhood Association.

    In her spare time, she enjoys reading, composing songs, singing, writing poetry, gardening, sewing, cooking and baking. She also loves spending time with her grandchildren and volunteering at convalescent homes during holidays.

    City Boards & Commissions

    • Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency and SF Bay Area Regional Water System Financing Authority, Board of Directors/RFA Member
    • Cities Association of Santa Clara County
      • Board of Directors, Legislative Action Committee, City Selection Committee
    • League of California Cities – Peninsula Division
    • San Jose/Santa Clara Treatment Plant Advisory Committee (TPAC)
    • Santa Clara County Library Joint Powers Authority, Board of Directors
    • Santa Clara Valley Water District, Water Commission
    • Silicon Valley Clean Energy (SVCE) [Alternate]
    • South Bay Odor Stakeholders Group (SBOSG)
    • Santa Clara VTA, Northeast Group
    • Santa Clara VTA, Board of Directors
    • Recycling & Waste Reduction Commission of SCC – appointed by City
    • City Economic Development & Trade Commission, Liaison
    • City Senior Advisory Commission, Liaison
    • City Veterans Commission, Liaison
    • City CEDAW Task Force
    • City/School Collaborative Subcommittee
    • City Facility Naming Subcommittee
    • City Council Finance Subcommittee
    • City Council Housing Ad Hoc Subcommittee
    • City Odor Reduction Ad Hoc Subcommittee
    • City Council Transportation Subcommittee

    Education

    • BA in Humanities, San Jose State University
    • Teaching Credential CLAD/BCLAD emphasis, CSUMB

    Community Involvement & Awards

    • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Good Neighbor Award”, 2001
    • United Neighborhoods “BRICC“ Award, 1992
    • Portraits of Success recipient, 2010
    • Milpitas Citizen of The Year Award, 2013
    • CA Assembly Community Heroes Award, 2017

    Professional Experience and Memberships (partial)

    • FIRST 5 Santa of Clara County Commissioner
    • Juvenile Justice Commissioner of Santa Clara County.
    • Santa Clara County former Historical Heritage Commissioner
    • Milpitas Unified School District Board Trustee 2000 to 2008
    • Open Space Authority of the Santa Clara Valley former Committee member
    • East Valley Flood Control former Advisory Committee
    • Safe Clean Water and Natural flood Protection Oversight Committee
    • E4T Engineers 4 Tomorrow Chairwoman
    • Sunnyhills Neighborhood Association member
    • APALI Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute alumni
    • Legal Aid Society former board member
    • Democratic Activist for Women Now DAWN member
    • Silicon Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce member
    • Milpitas Chamber of Commerce member
    • Former Milpitas Parks and Recreation Commissioner
    • Former Milpitas Library Commissioner
    • Former Milpitas Planning Commissioner
    • American Association of University Women member