Janet Nguyen

Orange County Supervisor, 1st District

Director Janet Nguyen was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors in February, 2007. In doing so, she became the first woman ever 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 ever to be elected in Orange County. In addition, she is only the fifth woman to serve on the Board of Supervisors, and this is the first time in Orange County’s history that two women serve on the Board at the same time.

As a member of the OCTA Board of Directors, Director Nguyen serves as Chair of the Transit Committee and is a member of the Executive Committee and the Quiet Zone Policy Working Group.

In the First District, Director Nguyen represents over 600,000 people, covering the Cities of Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Westminster, and the unincorporated community of Midway City. Orange County ranks as the sixth most populous county and the county with the seventh highest annual budget in the country.

Director Nguyen had previously served on the Garden Grove City Council, where she was the first woman to serve on the City Council in nearly 35 years and was the youngest member ever to be so elected. She had 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. Director Nguyen had 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.

Director Nguyen continues to dedicate much of her time to different organizations throughout the County. She is currently an Honorary Board Member for the Center For a Brand New Day. She is also a member of Soroptimist International of Garden Grove. She had previously served as a Board Member for the Garden Grove Hospital, an Associate Member of the Garden Grove Strawberry Festival Association, a Board Member of the Grove Theatre Center, and a Board Member for Senior Meals on Wheels.

Director 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. 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’s “25 Hottest” People in Orange County.

Born in Saigon, Vietnam. Director 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, Director 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, Director Nguyen has taught Princeton Review preparatory courses to students preparing to take the Law Student Admission Test (LSAT).

Director Nguyen resides in Garden Grove with her husband Tom Bonikowski.