Milpitas Mayor · Nov 3, 2026

Hon Lien

Candidate for Mayor

9 candidates · 3 seats15 sourced positions

Hon Lien is running for mayor of Milpitas in the Nov 3, 2026 election, against Carmen Montano, Santosh Sahoo and Voltaire Montemayor.

Vote-by-mail ballots mailed (starting the week of) · Mon, Oct 5, 2026

Today

City Councilmember since 2022; previously served on the Milpitas Planning Commission and the Milpitas Unified School District board.

Occupation (from candidate statement): Councilmember, City of Milpitas
Endorsed by: Lists endorsements from Assemblymember Alex Lee, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, County Supervisor Betty Duong, former Rep. Mike Honda, former Milpitas Mayor Pete McHugh and the South Bay Labor Council. Hon Lien campaign site
Campaign website: www.hon4mayor.com

Councilmember Hon Lien's council term ends this year, and she is running for mayor. The Milpitas Beat · Aug 27, 2026

Where Hon Lien stands: positions on the record

City Hall5 sourced positions

Says the mayor should support the city manager and staff, and the council should stay out of day-to-day city operations.
Own statementCandidate statements filed with the City Clerk · Aug 7, 2026
Interview with The Milpitas Beat
Said she wants the city manager to have council support without the council micromanaging him.
“I want to make sure that the city manager would do his job well with the support of the council, and not to overlook and micromanage what he does and do his job for him.”
Own statementThe Milpitas Beat · Jul 30, 2026
As recorded in the council minutes
Did not support a June 2026 suggestion that the council review management-level vacancies before they are filled; no formal action was taken.
Own statementCity Council special meeting minutes, 2026-06-09 · Jun 9, 2026
Voted no on appointing an interim city manager, citing the cost given the budget deficit (passed 4-1, April 2025).
Council voteCity Council minutes, 2025-04-15 · Apr 15, 2025
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

Council pay2 sourced positions

Voted no on directing staff to draft an ordinance raising council and mayor pay (passed 4-1, Sept. 2025), saying raises should wait until the budget is in surplus.
Council voteCity Council minutes, 2025-09-02 · Sep 2, 2025
Later voted yes to introduce the council pay ordinance (passed 5-0, Sept. 16, 2025).
Council voteCity Council minutes, 2025-09-16 · Sep 16, 2025

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., supported the developer's original $400,000 community benefit payment without increases.
Council voteCity Council minutes, 2026-05-19 · May 19, 2026
Her ballot statement says that as the city meets state housing requirements, protecting neighborhood character must be the priority.
Own statementCandidate statements filed with the City Clerk · Aug 7, 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

Food pantry2 sourced positions

As recorded in the council minutes
Proposed budgeting $120,000 for the food pantry's rent costs in June 2026; it did not reach consensus.
Own statementCity Council special meeting minutes, 2026-06-09 · Jun 9, 2026
Interview with The Milpitas Beat
Opposed raising the food pantry's rent, calling the pantry a place where people who cannot afford groceries get help.
“This is a nonprofit. This is where people who cannot afford to buy their groceries can go to get help,”
Own statementThe Milpitas Beat · Jun 6, 2026

Past candidacies1 sourced position

In their words

Said she wants the city manager to have council support without the council micromanaging him.
Jul 30, 2026 ·Interview with The Milpitas Beat ·The Milpitas Beat · Jul 30, 2026
Says the mayor should support the city manager and staff, and the council should stay out of day-to-day city operations.
Aug 7, 2026 ·Candidate statements filed with the City Clerk · Aug 7, 2026

On the record

Voted no on appointing an interim city manager, citing the cost given the budget deficit (passed 4-1, April 2025).
Apr 15, 2025 ·City Council minutes, 2025-04-15 · Apr 15, 2025
Voted yes on removing council evaluations of the interim city manager and acting city attorney from upcoming agendas (passed 3-2, Oct. 2025).
Oct 24, 2025 ·City Council special meeting minutes, 2025-10-24 · Oct 24, 2025

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