Ellen Kamei

Ellen is a current councilmember and former Mayor of the City of Mountain View in the heart of Silicon Valley, California. A third generation Mountain View resident, Ellen is the daughter of a Chinese and Puerto Rican American mother and a Japanese American father born at Heart Mountain Internment Camp.

Multiracial and multilingual, Ellen is a public servant passionate about youth and civic engagement, mental health services, and social equity for women and communities of color. Her City of Mountain View committee duties include serving as Chair of the Ad-Hoc Committee on Race, Diversity, and Inclusion as well as the Council Youth Services Committee. She is the President of the League of California Cities Women’s Caucus, Treasurer for the League of California Cities Peninsula Division, and member of the Cal Cities Board of Directors.

A former educator and community volunteer, Ellen spearheaded the opening of a City vaccination site, a Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot Program, and the creation of a Chinese (Mandarin) Language Leadership Academy as well as an expanded Multilingual Engagement Program.

Ellen lives in the Whisman area with her husband, newborn son, and dog.