Candidate for
Council Member; City of Garden Grove

DINA NGUYEN for Garden Grove City Council

November 7th, 2006

Dina Nguyen has spent most of her life serving the public, both in her work and volunteer activities. She's spent her entire life in Orange County since arriving in California in 1977. She now resides in Garden Grove where she lives with her three children. Dina has served Orange County for 18 years as an employee of the Superior Court and has had the opportunity to work along side with many judges, peace officers, and volunteers. While working at the court, she was constantly exposed to varying concerns and views about critical issues affecting both our criminal and civil justice systems. Dina believes the supervisory, budgetary, and management skills she learned at the Court will assist her both in formulating better policies and working with City staff to help deliver better and more efficient services for our residents. In 2000, she successfully supervised the merger of two sub-departments into one. She did so while preserving all essential services with reduced staff and eliminating costly overtime.

Dina currently serves as a Commissioner on the Garden Grove Neighborhood Improvement and Conservation Commission (GGNICC). The GGNICC recommends programs to the City Council to improve and preserve neighborhoods through zoning enforcement, housing rehabilitation, street improvement, and other housing-related programs. Dina's Commission experience has added to her understanding of the often competing interests that City government must weigh and balance to formulate and achieve its long-term vision; these interests include preventing and removing blight, and addressing both resident concerns about overcrowding and affordable housing as well as developer concerns about an efficient and affordable development climate

Dina is an active member of the California Bar Association. Her law practice focuses mainly in the areas of education, family, and business law. She is an avid advocate for President Bush's No Child Left Behind Program and Superior Court's Domestic Violence Prevention Program. Dina strongly believes that every child deserves an appropriate education and that education generates a capable workforce. She finds working with small businesses in the community and with parents who have children in special education programs, both particularly, challenging and rewarding.

Dina also serves as treasurer on the Vietnamese-American Bar Association (VABA). As a member of VABA she assists in Law Day events and in hosting informative legal talk shows on local radio and television stations. She believes that an informed community is the key to better leadership and government. She also dedicates her time as legal counsel to various non-profit organizations such as NBH Youth and Cultural Center and the Sustainable Community of Orange County. She understands that volunteer members of non-profit organizations are people who care about the community and who want promote culture, education, and the welfare of the community. Dina recognizes that their causes bring people and businesses together, which ultimately contributes to local business development. .

Dina understands that teen outreach is the best form of crime and gang prevention and that's why she supports family and juvenile mediation programs. Dina Nguyen is a volunteer mediator between juveniles and their parents. Her bi-lingual skill and understanding of the generation and cultural gaps between parents and teens have extended her assistance to Vietnamese-American and Mexican-American families.

Dina Nguyen spends most of her Sunday's on Main Street in Garden Grove promoting The Sustainable Community Foundation of Orange County. SCFOC is a charitable organization dedicated to promoting education through scholarship grants and assistance to after school programs. Dina is also a board member and secretary for SCFOC.

Dina is most proud of her contribution and/or volunteer work with:

• Orange County Community Services Programs
• Boy Scouts of America.
• The American Red Cross
• NBH Youth and Cultural Development Center
• Team of Advocates for Special Kids
• The Sustainable Community Foundation of Orange County
• The Garden Grove Rotary Club