Meet Ellen
My roots in Mountain View
For me, Mountain View is home.
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, whose parents met in Mountain View, but was born at Heart Mountain Incarceration Camp in Wyoming. I am multiracial and multilingual, learning to speak Spanish, Japanese, and Mandarin.
I am the granddaughter and daughter of small business owners. I grew up on my family’s ten-acre flower-growing nursery. The nursery was first located in Mountain View and later moved to Morgan Hill, the two cities I grew up in. My grandparents lived in Mountain View, and along with my younger brother, 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 continue calling Mountain View my home.
Call to Public Service
Inspired by community service since youth, I began volunteering in elementary school and haven’t stopped since. I hold the steadfast values of civic participation and assistance, especially to those in need within the community. Driven to service, my career has taken me from Japan to the East Coast and back home to Mountain View. My professional experience spans over a decade in public service at the city, county, state, and federal government levels. I have helped work on anything from national issues to public safety within Mountain View.
Serving Mountain View
In addition to my professional experience, I am a graduate of Leadership Mountain View, and served on the Leadership Mountain View Advisory Council. I served as a member of the Mountain View Public Safety Foundation Board, volunteer of the Mountain View Firefighters Random Acts non-profit assisting in the Annual Fire Drill 5K/10K Race and Pancake Breakfast. I assisted the Mountain View Historical Association, of which I am a member, with their Spring Panel on “Japanese in Mountain View” to celebrate May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and to reflect on the 75th anniversary of Japanese internment in 2017.
For six and a half years, I was a member of the City of Mountain View’s Environmental Planning Commission, serving as Vice-Chair in 2014 and Chair in 2015.
Why I am running for re-election
Our diverse community is changing. I ran to make sure opportunities continue for the next generation as well as our family-oriented community. I sought to pair my leadership, experience, and skills with the passion of the voices of the community to ensure that Mountain View continues to stand in support of all its residents and that it is a welcoming and safe community.
My top priorities that I am committed to include:
Providing housing solutions for residents at various income levels
Increasing multi-modal transportation and pedestrian options and accelerate toward the city’s sustainability and climate change goals
Enhance access to open space and parks adjacent to neighborhoods
Ensuring that the quality of life for all Mountain View residents is at the highest standard.
I live in the Whisman neighborhood with my husband, our son, and our dog.
Honors
Mountain View Chamber of Commerce Athena International Award for Excellence 2022
Silicon Valley Business Journal Woman of Influence 2021
California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Rising Star 2021
American Council of Young Political Leaders, Delegation Member
Asian American Recovery Services Legacy Award, Recipient
Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute Alumni Pacesetter Award 2018
Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute, 120 under 40
Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute Civic Leadership Program
California Democratic Party Asian Pacific Islander Caucus Rising Star 2021
Emerge California
International City/County Management Association FellowshipUniversity of Pennsylvania, Fels Institute of Government Institutional Service Award
Leadership Mountain View
Presentation High School, Outstanding Young Alumnae Award
New Leaders Council - Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley Asian Pacific American Democratic Club, Rising Star Award
U.S.– Japan Council Emerging Leaders Program, Delegation Member
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
Profession
External Affairs Manager
District Director, CA State Assembly
Policy Aide, Santa Clara County, Board of Supervisors
Local Government Management Fellow, City of Fremont, Office of the City Manager
Congressional Aide
English Language Teacher
