Christen Montero Announces Bid for Ward 2 City Council Seat

Social media entrepreneur Christen Montero has announced her candidacy for the Ward 2 City Council seat, pledging to bring fresh leadership and ensure "every family, small business and neighborhood has the resources and opportunity to thrive.”

Montero, founder of marketing consulting agency MCA and co-founder of software company Blue Social, enters an open race following Councilmember Clarissa Cervantes' decision not to seek re-election.

"Riverside is more than my hometown — it's where I was raised, where I built my business, and where I've spent my life investing in others," Montero told The Raincross Gazette. "But today, those community values and opportunities that helped me succeed are slipping away. I'm running for City Council because I believe it's time for a New Direction for Riverside.”

The Ward 2 candidate brings extensive private sector experience, having spent her career helping small businesses grow and mentoring young professionals. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Filipino Chamber of Commerce and nonprofit organizations including Salvaging Sisterhood and Women Wonder Writers.

Montero's platform addresses what she sees as core challenges facing working families: rising costs, lack of affordable housing and limited access to quality jobs. Her priorities include supporting small businesses to create safe, good-paying jobs closer to where people live; making neighborhoods more affordable by investing in core services and attracting amenities residents can walk or drive to; ensuring first responders have necessary resources; expanding green spaces in neighborhoods; and building Riverside's cultural presence by leveraging assets like The Cheech to attract restaurants, galleries and cultural events.

"Riverside deserves leadership rooted in the community, guided by experience, and driven by a deep love for the city we call home," Montero told the Gazette. "That's what I'll bring to the Riverside City Council.”

A lifelong Riverside resident, Montero attended Taft Elementary School, Amelia Earhart Middle School, Martin Luther King Jr. High School and Citrus High School. She credits supportive teachers and mentors with nurturing her passion for performing arts and introducing her to Riverside's culture of arts and innovation.

Montero's candidacy has drawn support from Riverside County Supervisor Jose Medina, who endorsed her campaign.

Montero holds both a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Business Administration from the University of Redlands. A dancer since age four, she can often be found hiking Mt. Rubidoux or running with her two white German Shepherds when not tending to her farm animals.

Ward 2 encompasses the University of California, Riverside, and the neighborhoods of Canyon Crest, Sycamore Canyon, Canyon Springs, Mission Grove and Hunter Industrial Park.

Throughout her campaign, Montero emphasized her commitment to direct community engagement, promising to maintain regular contact with residents and business owners to understand their needs.

"As a candidate for City Council, I'm committed to action, not just ideas," she said.

The primary election is scheduled for June 2, 2026.

For more information about Montero's campaign, visit votechristen.com.