As the first Indian-American ever elected to Milpitas Unified School District’s (MUSD) Board of Education, Anu Nakka knows what it’s like to break barriers.
And now she’s looking to break yet another one…
Recently, Nakka informed The Beat that she will be running for a seat on the Milpitas City Council:
“I’ve been living in the city for over two decades and I’m deeply rooted. My active engagement in community service…that made me feel compelled to step up and serve at the council level.”
In the history of the Milpitas City Council, an Indian-American individual hasn’t ever been elected to serve.
Nakka was elected to a Trustee seat on MUSD’s Board of Education in November 2022. This year, she became Board Clerk.
“My tenure at MUSD has been extremely enriching,” said Nakka. “I have been able to deep dive and be immersed in the workings of the school system.”
Nakka’s time on the school board has led her to feel that she’s gained valuable insights and a deep understanding of cultivating open and transparent communication. She also feels that she’s been able to gain mastery skills in budgeting and other financial areas. In her time with MUSD, she has also been proud to champion safety, security, and infrastructure development, as with the new Innovation Campus.
She now hopes to bring some of what she has learned to the Milpitas City Council.
“I want to bring flavor to the table at a different level of giving back to the community through more effective governance at the council level,” Nakka explained to The Beat.
If elected to the Milpitas City Council, Nakka’s paramount focus would be expanding affordable housing opportunities and enhancing quality of life standards for all residents.
She’d also prioritize infrastructure improvements, like fixing pavements and potholes. She would also encourage more collaborative communication on the council and find ways to cultivate heightened civic engagement.
As a software engineer with a doctorate in Finance, Nakka feels that she can bring much-needed talents to the council.
“I can identify the critical areas in which the council may benefit from my support. I would enhance communications, as well. Strides have been made, but there remains untapped potential to forster transparent communication,” Nakka said.
If Nakka is victorious, she will have to leave behind her school board seat in the middle of her 4-year term.
Diana Orlando, former President of the Milpitas Teachers Association, told The Beat that she was disappointed to learn that Nakka is running for Council after she had promised to complete a full term on the school board.
“Here we are barely into her second year and she is bailing on the students and staff she promised to serve,” Orlando told The Beat.
But Nakka doesn’t see it that way. She feels that if she is elected to Council, she will continue serving, just at a greater level.
Said Nakka, “My commitment is to serve Milpitas families and our community at large. This includes the schools, students, and future generations. I will be continuing to serve regardless of what happens in November.”
