Mayor Carmen Montano of Milpitas has strong roots in that city. She and her family have been its residents 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 previously served as the Milpitas Vice Mayor from 2014 to 2016.

Serving the community is Carmen’s passion, and she 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, Carmen 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.