Meet Ellen

Please see my brief professional and personal biography below.

ELLEN KAMEI, CURRENT COUNCILMEMBER & FORMER MAYOR, MOUNTAIN VIEW SUMMARY BIOGRAPHY

Personal Background

Born and raised in Silicon Valley, I am the daughter of a first-generation Chinese and Puerto Rican American mother from New York City and a third-generation Japanese American father born at Heart Mountain Incarceration Camp in Wyoming. I am multiracial and multilingual, learning to speak Spanish, Japanese, and Mandarin.

My paternal grandparents met in Mountain View and my grandfather later owned his own small business as a flower grower, passing that tradition on to my father. The nursery was first located in Mountain View and I would spend many days with them at their home in Waverly Park, planting the seeds for my roots in the City. These childhood experiences brought me back to Mountain View when my grandparents fell ill. They have both since passed away, but I have been fortunate enough to be able to stay and make my home here as well. Now, I live near the Whisman neighborhood with my husband, our newborn son, and our dog.

Government Background

• Elected in 2018, I am currently serving my first term on the Mountain View City Council. I was unanimously elected Vice Mayor in 2020 by my Council colleagues, and Mayor in 2021.

•  Prior to my election to the City Council, I served on the City’s Environmental Planning Commission from 2012 - 2018, serving as Vice-Chair in 2014, and Chair in 2015.

• Santa Clara County, Youth Task Force, 2000-2002. 
  
  Professional Background

• External & Legislative Affairs Manager, AT&T

• District Director, CA Assemblymember Marc Berman

• Policy Aide, Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian

• Local Government Management Fellow, City of Fremont, Office of the City

  Manager

• Congressional Aide, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo & Zoe Lofgren

• English Language Teacher, Middle School, Elementary School, and Kindergarten

Education

• Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government, State and Local Government Program for Senior Executives in Leadership Program

• University of Pennsylvania, Fels Institute of Government, M.P.A.

• University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A. English

• Presentation High School
  

  City Council Standing Committee Assignments

  My 2020 Vice Mayor Council duties included:

• Council Appointments Review Committee (Member)

• Council Transportation Committee (CTC) (Member)

• Council Youth Services Committee (CYSC) (Chair)

• Council Ad-Hoc Subcommittee on Race, Equity, and Inclusion (Chair)

• Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) General Assembly

• Community Health Awareness Council (CHAC)

• Cities Association of Santa Clara County (CASCC) Board of Directors (Alternate)

• CASCC Legislative Action Committee (Alternate)

• CASCC Selection Committee (Alternate)

• Grand Boulevard Task Force: Policy Committee (Alternate)

• Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority (Alternate)

  My 2019 Councilmember duties included:

• Council Environmental Sustainability Committee (CESC) (Member)

• Council Transportation Committee (CTC) (Member)

•  Council Youth Services Committee (CYSC) (Chair)

• Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) General Assembly (Alternate)

• Avenidas Board of Directors

• Community Health Awareness Council

• Moffett Field Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) (Alternate)

• Silicon Valley Animal Control Authority (Alternate)

  Community Volunteer Activities:

• Community Services Agency

•  Second Harvest Food Bank

• Mountain View Public Safety Foundation

• Reach Potential Movement

• Community Action Team (CAT)

With gratitude,