By Elpidio R. Estioko
MILPITAS – Incumbent vice mayor Carmen Montano officially launched her candidacy for mayor for the city of Milpitas, March 20 at the Dave & Busters, Great Mall, this city.
In her kick-off speech, she emphasized that she is the peoples’ candidate, who lived in Milpitas since 1964 and have been involved in community service for over 20 years.
“I am humbled and honored by many members of my community who have encouraged me to become a candidate for mayor,” Montano said.
While anchored on education, public school teacher Montano emphasized that she is embracing diversity representing the people of Milpitas as her battle cry in running for mayor.
“As the current vice mayor of Milpitas, I have the experience, education, and a good track record to stay the course in keeping Milpitas in the forefront as being one of the best and safest cities to live in,’ she said.
Montano has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, has a teacher’s credential, voted as a Milpitas Unified School District Governing Board Trustee 2000-2008, a Milpitas Citizen of the Year Award in 2010, and a former vice chair of the Library Advisory Commission (LAC), among others.
Among her goals include maintaining public safety in the city, continue making the family resource for parents and children to use efficiently and effectively, and converting government vehicles to electric cars in order to not pollute the air as part of her clean air project.
She also envisions to put up a Theater for Performing Arts, and a Santana-row type of development in the city as part of her vision for affordable housing for residents.
“As mayor, I will do my best to make our city the best city in this area of the Silicon Valley,” she uttered.
The singing candidate for Mayor, who led the attendees in singing the national anthem, was graced by 11 of her selected students who gave a special rendition singing It’s A Small World.
Montano is representing the city of Milpitas in the Santa Clara County Library Joint Powers Authority (JPA), Santa Clara Valley Water District’s Coyote Flood Protection and Watershed Advisory Committee, a Portraits of Success Recipient Awardee in 2008, got an award for the Santa Clara County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Good Neighbor in 2000, and a Santa Clara County Community Foundation Sunnyhills Improvement Awardee in 1993.
Incumbent city mayor Jose Esteves, who will be termed out this year, has endorsed Montano’s candidacy for mayor. Emergency Preparedness City Commissioner Evelyn Chua, who is also running for the city Council, also endorsed her. Also present during the kick-off party were incumbent city councilmember Atty. Gary Barbadillo; City Commissioners Ray Maglalang, Rajeev Madnawat, Elpidio R. Estioko, Sudhir Mandal, and Dipak Awasthi, among others.
