Bio

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Hon. Janet Nguyen was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in February, 2007. In doing so, Supervisor Nguyen set many firsts in Orange County politics. She became the first woman Supervisor to represent the First District, the first Asian-American and the first Vietnamese-American to serve on the Board of Supervisors, and the youngest Supervisor elected in Orange County history. Only the fifth woman to serve on the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Nguyen’s election, together with Supervisor Patricia Bates’ election in 2006, marks the first time Orange County has two women serving on the Board at the same time.

On January 13, 2009, Supervisor Nguyen was elected to serve as Vice-Chair on the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Together with the election of Supervisor Patricia Bates as Chair, this marks the first time two women have served in leadership positions on the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Nguyen represents more than 600,000 residents in the First District, which covers the cities of Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Westminster, and the unincorporated community of Midway City. Orange County is the sixth most populous county in the nation with the seventh highest annual county budget in the U.S.

Supervisor Janet Nguyen previously served on the Garden Grove City Council where she was the first woman councilmember to serve in nearly 35 years and was the youngest member ever to be so elected. She also served on the Garden Grove Planning Commission, the Garden Grove Traffic Commission and as a board member for the Orange County Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board. She was part of the staff for former Chairman Bill Steiner and former Chairwoman Cynthia Coad of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Janet Nguyen also served as District Director in the California State Assembly and Vice President of Government and Public Affairs for the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

Supervisor Janet Nguyen continues to devote much of her time to different organizations throughout the County. In January 2009, she was appointed by the California State Association of Counties to the newly established Board of Directors for the California Massage Therapy Council. She currently serves an Honorary Board Member for the Center For a Brand New Day. She previously served as a Board Member for the Garden Grove Hospital, as an Associate Member of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association, a Board Member of the Grove Theatre Center, Soroptimist International of Garden Grove and a Board Member for Senior Meals on Wheels.

Supervisor Janet Nguyen has been recognized by the Asian Pacific American Legislative Staff Association for the distinction of being the first Vietnamese-American to hold the position of District Director in a state or federal legislator's office. She was awarded the We Give Thanks 2004 Women of Vision Award, which recognizes outstanding women who have provided exceptional services to the community. Supervisor Nguyen also was named to the Class of 2008 Latino OC 100 for her work with the Latino community. She also was awarded the 2008 St. Anselm Cultural Diversity Award. In addition, the Orange County Register has listed her as one of the "30 Vietnamese Americans To Watch” and she was named one of OC Metro Magazine 2006 “25 Hottest” People in Orange County for her demonstrated leadership and influence in Southern California.

Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Supervisor Janet Nguyen and her family escaped their homeland on a small wooden 10-meter boat sailing across the South China Sea in search of freedom. After passing through numerous refugee camps, Supervisor Nguyen and her family arrived in California in 1981. She is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. A strong supporter of education, Supervisor Nguyen has taught Princeton Review preparatory courses to students preparing to take the Law Student Admission Test (LSAT).

Supervisor Janet Nguyen resides in Garden Grove with her husband Tom Bonikowski.