Milpitas Mayoral Election: A City Ready for Accountability and Change

As Milpitas prepares for its November 3, 2026, mayoral election, voters face an important question: Is the city receiving the leadership and effective governance it deserves?

The four candidates are incumbent Mayor Carmen Montano, Councilmember Hon Lien, Voltaire Montemayor, and Santosh Sahoo.  Two most favorable candidates in the race are the current mayor and Hon Lien.   

Among the central issues in the race are Montano's leadership style, the handling of public resources, the treatment of community organizations, and the growing concerns over dysfunction within city government.

Concerned Voters Demand Answers

The Food Pantry dispute has become a symbol of the tensions surrounding Mayor Montano's approach to leadership. According to an October 6, 2026, Milpitas Beat report, Montano referred to supporters of the Milpitas Food Pantry as “bigots” and “haters” in social media comments amid a dispute over rent and operating hours. Her proposal to raise the nonprofit's rent from a nominal amount to more than $5,000 per month raised concerns about the future of a longstanding organization serving vulnerable residents.

Accountability matters, but so does compassion. A mayor should be able to address operational concerns without turning disagreements into public confrontations. Hon Lien's proposal to consider financial assistance for the pantry offered an alternative approach to addressing the dispute while preserving an essential community service.

The Steve McHarris lawsuit raises further questions about the cost of conflict within city government. The former city manager sued the city after his 2023 forcing out  by the Mayor Montano, alleging wrongful termination and other employment-related claims.  He alleged that the decision was retaliatory by the mayor for not keeping an employee that she preferred.   In August 2024, Milpitas Beat reported Councilmember Lien's estimate that legal costs had reached $300,000 and growing.

Regardless of the final outcome, taxpayers deserve to know why the dispute became so costly and whether it could have been resolved more efficiently. Lien opposed McHarris's termination, highlighting a different perspective on how the city should handle its senior management. Combined with concerns about management turnover, the case raises legitimate questions about stability, decision-making, and fiscal responsibility.

City Council meetings presiding by Mayor Montano have also drawn criticism over confrontational exchanges and the effectiveness of the governing process. Council meetings should be places for professional debate, public participation, and practical solutions—not recurring political drama. The mayor has a responsibility to maintain order, encourage constructive discussion, and keep the city's business moving forward.

Milpitas cannot afford to let internal conflict overshadow pressing issues public safety, economic development, housing, infrastructure, and essential municipal services.

A Common Sense Alternative

In the 2024 mayoral election, Montano received approximately 35.8% of the vote, compared with 32.5% for Lien and 22.3% for Anthony Phan. If it was not for Anthony Phan splitting the Vietnamese American votes, Hon Lien would have won.

Lien is presenting herself as an alternative focused on common sense, community engagement, and practical problem-solving. Her experience as a City Councilmember and former school board member, combined with her entrepreneurial background, informs her approach to public service and responsible spending.

Her campaign has also highlighted endorsements and support from South Bay Labor Council, the Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® (SCCAOR), and elected officials from city, county and state levels.

Milpitas Deserves Better Governance

The Food Pantry controversy, the costly McHarris litigation, and concerns about council meeting conduct all raise a fundamental question about Montano's leadership. .

Conventional wisdom demands a change from Montano.  Voters want a new mayor who puts public service ahead of personal conflict, self-ego, collaboration ahead of confrontation, and practical solutions ahead of political drama.

As voters evaluate the candidates, the standard should be clear: Milpitas deserves a city government with mayoral leadership that lead with common sense, responsible for a balance budget, focusing on infrastructure and economic development, and puts residents first.