Campaign signs are everywhere in Milpitas this fall — but what do they actually tell you? A soon-to-be voter looks past the names and slogans and finds she has more questions than answers.

A Milpitas high school student looks into what the mayor actually does — and what the job doesn't include.

A strong local economy benefits every resident. Inflation continues to challenge families and businesses, making it more important than ever for City Hall to be a partner, not an obstacle, to economic growth. One of the fastest ways to encourage investment is by reducing delays in the permitting and inspection process. Every unnecessary delay increases construction costs and postpones new jobs, businesses, housing, and tax revenue. We should make our development process more

Housing remains one of the biggest challenges facing Milpitas. State mandates continue to place increasing demands on our city, but we can meet those requirements while protecting the neighborhoods that make Milpitas a great place to live. We need a balanced approach that includes thoughtfully planned new housing, expanded opportunities for ADUs, and revitalized older homes and neighborhoods. At the same time, we must preserve the character of our existing residential communi

Keeping our community safe is my highest priority. While many people believe the only solution is to hire more police officers, we must also make better use of the resources we already have. Today, Milpitas has approximately the same number of public safety personnel that it had in the 1990s, despite significant population growth and increased demands on law enforcement. Our officers spend too much time on duties that do not require their specialized training. We should allow

A Milpitas high school student sets out to understand what really goes on behind the campaign signs — and why local elections matter, even before you're old enough to vote.