Milpitas mayor announces run for State Senate

Milpitas Mayor Carmen Montano has disclosed her intention to run for State Senate in California s district asserting more moderate voices are needed to collaborate across partisan lines I m not really about the party I m about the people and the society explained Montano I feel that I could make a difference in people s lives Montano is a retired schoolteacher who has long been a figure in Milpitas society office She served for eight years as a school board trustee for Milpitas Unified School District starting in before being elected to city council in where she served for two non-consecutive terms In Montano made history when she became the first woman to be elected mayor of Milpitas and in was re-elected in a close race with a crowded field of four candidates Montano stated she would prioritize general safety and accountability for those who commit crimes including by providing more funding for Prop which has struggled to meet its promise of mass therapy citing smash-and-grabs as a particular concern She also touted balanced housing policies for affordable housing improving literacy and academic success and working on means to make home insurance more affordable Montano also called both parties too extreme and out of touch with everyday requirements and focused on common-sense solutions People forget that they re representing the people and not just representing the party she declared California s district includes Fremont Hayward Union City Newark Milpitas Sunnyvale and Santa Clara At this moment State Senator Aisha Wahab represents District Wahab also made history in when she became the first Muslim elected to the California State Senate She previously served as a mayor of Hayward City Council and now is chair of the Senate Housing Committee and Assistant Majority Leader in the Senate Wahab s campaign did not respond to an email inquiry for this story Primaries for the California State Senate will take place in June after which the top two candidates will continue to the general voting process in November