by Mark McDermott
When Nina Tarnay announced her candidacy for Manhattan Beach City Council, it surprised some of the people who know her. She’s a practicing attorney, a very active mother of three kids, and a heavily involved volunteer in everything from the Jimmy Miller Foundation to the Manhattan Beach Education Foundation.
But to those who have known her longest, her candidacy was not surprising. The only surprise was that it took this long.
“When I posted on Facebook that I was running, all of my friends from high school were like, ‘It’s about time. We’ve been waiting for this,’” Tarnay said.
Tarnay went to high school in Los Angeles, where she was a student body president who attended LAUSD school board meetings. She had a natural sense of civic duty borne of the fact that she was not only from an immigrant family, but one that had survived an epic adventure making it to the United States. They were so-called “boat people” who were forced to flee Vietnam in the most dangerous circumstances imaginable, and were separated by three different voyages and various refugee camps over different years. Tarnay was six years old when she and her mother spent six weeks at sea on a small boat before being rescued. The family miraculously reunited in Los Angeles.
“I grew up with a big sense of being lucky to be here, and feeling we have to be a part of the process, to really try to find solutions and be a voice when you can, especially on issues that are important to you,” Tarnay said.
Tarnay always had it in the back of her mind that she would get involved with city governance. She spoke frequently at City Council, and volunteered in countless local organizations. But on top of her career, in which she worked with cities such as El Segundo, on contract, her children had very active sports schedules. Her husband is an emergency room doctor, so the timing was never right to directly enter the political fray.
Then, in January, she got a last minute ticket to go see former Congresswoman Liz Chaney speak at the Distinguished Speakers Series. At one point, Chaney fielded a question, “Why aren’t there more politicians to choose from?” Her answer hit home for Tarnay.
“She said, ‘You know, that would require normal people like all of you to consider running for office,’” Tranay recalled. “I swear, I was like, she’s talking to me.”
Her youngest was 16 and her career was not as consuming as it was in the past, so Tarney started thinking about running for Council. Then, on Mother’s Day, her kids did something that made up her mind. They gave her a T-shirt that said, “Vote for Nina,” in the style of the “Vote for Pedro” shirt from the movie Napoleon Dynamite.
“So that is what really tipped it for me, because this decision is such a big decision, and it really requires a lot of sacrifice from our whole family,” Tarnay said.
Her priorities as a candidate are interwoven with her experiences as a mother, volunteer, and attorney.
“I think the advantage of my candidacy is I’m truly someone who’s representing the community on so many different levels,” she said. “I can represent the community as a PTA and AYSO mom, as somebody who’s been involved in all facets of raising kids in this community through the public school system, through the challenges of a shrinking budget, fundraising, trying to implement stopgap measures so we don’t lose teachers.”
“The other component, of course, is my legal experience. I’ve practiced law. I understand that the answers aren’t always super easy…There are always factors you have to take into consideration so that you don’t expose the city to liabilities.”
Tarnay also ran a small business, a furniture store she owned with her brother. She believes this background, combined with her specific legal expertise with cities, gives her a unique understanding on how Manhattan Beach might be able to streamline some of its processes to better help its small businesses.
“I understand the challenges that small businesses face,” she said. “I hope to facilitate an easier permitting process, and work with residents and businesses to really streamline the process.”
Tarnay’s current job is as the executive administrator for the West Basin Water Association, a nonprofit organization whose mission is the protection and preservation of groundwater supplies. This is another area of expertise she thinks could prove valuable for the City.
“West Basin Municipal Water District has pivoted away from desalination — and I am glad they pivoted, because the community was not into it — and has redoubled its efforts into recycled water for non-potable use, like gardening and landscaping,” she said. “So it is basically free water to residents…. When you think about water and how much is wasted in just runoff that can be recycled and reused, I’d love to see our City be at the forefront of pursuing those options.”
Another issue Tarnay would like the City to address is e-bike safety. She thinks stricter enforcement is an urgent matter.
“I know the schools are trying to do their part,” Tarnay said. “The city has passed ordinances on speed limits and on helmets. Now let’s start enforcing this. Let’s start ticketing. Because messaging hasn’t seemed to have gotten across, and unfortunately, it’s going to have to hit people in their pocketbooks before they pay attention…. E-bikes are here to stay. I think they serve a great purpose. They allow for more mobility. But we have to do a better job regulating and enforcing the rules.”
Tarnay believes her background uniquely prepares her to get in the trenches and find solutions to problems that may seem intractable. The lessons she learned as a young child still resonate with her, and she hopes to bring that voice to the council.
“As a refugee family, facing that hardship, you don’t even think about it. You just do it,” she said. “Growing up with that background, nothing is ever not doable for me. Just put your head down and get it done. I’ve always had that ‘can do’ attitude. Whatever task is at hand. Let’s get this done.” ER
