Carmen Montano began her second term as Milpitas mayor at a Dec. 10 swearing-in ceremony by appointing city councilmember Garry Barbadillo as vice mayor.
Montano, the city’s first Latina mayor, was sworn in along with councilmembers William Lam and Evelyn Chua. Incumbent Chua and newcomer Lam beat out Bill Chuan, Anu Nakka, Dipak Awasthi and Juliette Gomez for the two open seats on the council in the Nov. 5 election.
Councilmembers Hon Lien and Anthony Phan ran against Montano for the city’s top spot, along with resident Voltaire Montemayor. While Lien’s first term on the council ends in 2026, Phan’s second and last term ends this year.
“We are excited to begin this new term with leaders who represent the strength and diversity of Milpitas,” said Montano in a release. “Together, we will continue to build a vibrant, inclusive and thriving community for all our residents. As we close out (Milpitas’s) 70th anniversary, we also reflect on the contributions of those who have helped shape our city’s path forward.”
City manager Ned Thomas expressed confidence in both the new and re-elected leadership. “We are fortunate to have such a dedicated and experienced group of leaders at the helm,” he said. “Mayor Montano, vice mayor Barbadillo and councilmembers Chua, Lien and Lam have a proven track record of making thoughtful decisions that reflect the values and needs of our community.”
