Milpitas Mayor · Nov 3, 2026
Carmen Montano
Candidate for Mayor (incumbent)
Carmen Montano, the incumbent, is running for mayor of Milpitas in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Hon Lien, Santosh Sahoo and Voltaire Montemayor.
Vote-by-mail ballots mailed (starting the week of) · Mon, Oct 5, 2026
TodayMayor of Milpitas since 2022 and a former councilmember and Milpitas Unified School District board member; her ballot designation is Mayor / Educator.
- Occupation (from candidate statement)
- Mayor / Educator
- Campaign website
- montanoformayor.com
Where Carmen Montano stands: positions on the record
Measure K1 sourced position
Quoted by The Mercury News
Says Measure K is fair and would help reduce the structural deficit and maintain city services.
“It’s fair and it will help us bring down that structural deficit and maintain services in the city.”
Own statementThe Mercury News · Sep 21, 2026
Budget1 sourced position
Voted yes to put $1.6 million of projected surplus toward the forecast 2027-28 General Fund shortfall (passed 5-0, June 2026).
Council voteCity Council special meeting minutes, 2026-06-09 · Jun 9, 2026
Housing4 sourced positions
At a May 2026 hearing on 119 homes at 1320 McCandless Dr., proposed raising the developer's $400,000 community benefit payment to $1 million; $700,000 was approved 5-0.
Council voteCity Council minutes, 2026-05-19 · May 19, 2026
As reported by The Milpitas Beat; not a direct quote
Lists expanding affordable housing while preserving neighborhood character among her priorities if re-elected.
Own statementThe Milpitas Beat · Jul 16, 2026
Voted yes to adopt the Gateway-Main Street Specific Plan (passed 5-0, Oct. 2025).
Council voteCity Council special meeting minutes, 2025-10-28 · Oct 28, 2025
Voted yes to create a transit-oriented development overlay zone implementing state Senate Bill 79 (passed 5-0, May 2026).
Council voteCity Council minutes, 2026-05-19 · May 19, 2026
Council pay1 sourced position
Voted yes on directing staff to draft an ordinance setting council pay at $22,800 and mayor's pay at $27,600 after the 2026 election (passed 4-1, Sept. 2025).
Council voteCity Council minutes, 2025-09-02 · Sep 2, 2025
Food pantry1 sourced position
As recorded in the council minutes
Raised concerns about the food pantry's limited hours and suggested staff research, possibly an RFP, before any city funding for its rent.
Own statementCity Council special meeting minutes, 2026-06-09 · Jun 9, 2026
City Hall1 sourced position
Voted yes on removing council evaluations of the interim city manager and acting city attorney from upcoming agendas (passed 3-2, Oct. 2025).
Council voteCity Council special meeting minutes, 2025-10-24 · Oct 24, 2025
Priorities1 sourced position
Her ballot statement lists public safety, emergency preparedness, crime reduction, affordable housing, business attraction and responsible budgets as priorities.
“safer neighborhoods, stronger emergency preparedness, crime reduction”
Own statementCandidate statements filed with the City Clerk · Aug 7, 2026
Past candidacies1 sourced position
Ran for State Senate District 10 in 2026 as a Democratic candidate (lost).
Own statementCalifornia Secretary of State, Statement of Vote: State Senator, June 2, 2026 primary
Also running for Mayor
All 9 Milpitas candidates →Every claim here links to its source and was checked against it before publishing. How this guide works →
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