Manhattan City Council: Napolitano, Montgomery bow out, while Tarnay, Franklin, and Charelian step in

by Mark McDermott 

Steve Napolitano and Richard Montgomery said their farewells at City Council Tuesday night, while Steve Charelian and Nina Tarnay were sworn in as first-time council members. Reelected Councilperson Joe Franklin was also sworn in again. 

The departure of Napolitano and Montgomery marks the end of an era in Manhattan Beach city government. Napolitano was first elected in 1992 at the age of 26, the youngest councilperson in city history, and would serve until 2005, and then return in 2017, and serve two more terms.Napolitano, a Manhattan Beach native, served as mayor a record six times. Montgomery, who first ran at the beckoning of Napolitano, served two terms from 2005 to 2013 and then likewise returned in 2017. 

Councilmembers Steve Napolitano and Richard Montgomery at their final meeting. Both termed out. Photo by Kenny Ingle

The two terms Napolitano and Montgomery served together included the termination of the top tier of city management at its outset, the addition of 10 positions to the police department, the reconciliation of the City’s tragic history with Bruce’s Beach, navigation of a global pandemic, and setting the City’s financial house in order. 

“I’m not one to rattle off a list of accomplishments….but I am proud of a few things over these last two terms,” Napolitano said. “I’m proud of our rebuilt partnership with our schools. I’m proud of how we dealt with COVID. No, it wasn’t close to perfect, and we had to deal with conflicting and contracting contradicting orders, but we came through it together, kept our businesses afloat and rebounded faster than many of our neighbors by a long shot. I’m proud of how we reconciled and dealt with Bruce’s Beach. It wasn’t easy. Our truths never are and despite a lot of BS, we did the right thing in the end. I’m also proud to have put our city on its best financial footing ever by greatly reducing the general fund subsidy of our stormwater fee and putting a successful half cent sales tax on the ballot to rebuild our infrastructure. I ran to get things done, and a lot of things did get done.” 

Montgomery, known as the “crisis mayor” for his leadership during the Great Recession in 2008 and the pandemic in 2020, also pointed to a list of things that got done, including rebuilding Fire Station #2, the Polliwog playground, and Peck Reservoir. 

“We did get some things done,” he said. “It got done because we went at it with our focus and attention. It was a team effort.” 

“I was especially fortunate to serve these eight years with my friend Richard,” Napolitano said. “Yes, where we were retreads. We came back for more, and were the first ones to successfully do it. But I’d argue that our experience served us well and made us even better the second time around.” 

Mayor Amy Howorth had warm words for both of her outgoing colleagues. She praised Montgomery’s big heart. She recalled that when there was a hurricane in Texas, he not only helped organize a drive to bring goods to devastated communities, but actually drove the supplies there. 

“This is a guy who doesn’t just talk the talk. He walks the walk,” she said. “He drives the truck.” 

Similarly, she remembered a night when she received a threatening phone call and Montgomery insisted on walking her to the police station, and tied that to his steadfast leadership as mayor during the pandemic. 

“I was so proud that you were our mayor and you were leading us through that [time],” she said. “I felt safe, just like I did that night you walked me over to the police department, and I know every community member in that very turbulent, scary time felt the same.” 

Councilmember Steve Charelian with his sons Knox and Chase at the dais. Photo by Kenny Ingle

Howorth taunted Napolitano, humorously, vowing first to not say any nice things —  because he is averse to such pretty talk —  until she saw his mother in the council chambers. She recalled his instrumental role, long ago, in not only establishing the Beach Volleyball Walk of Fame but also making sure women players were a part of it. She praised Napolitano’s ability to both raise the level of discourse and to inject good humor into it. 

“You taught us all to understand that maybe we have something to learn from each other,” Howorth said. “….It’s diversity in the ways we think. It’s how we come to conclusions. It’s the different people we’re talking to. It can’t be overstated how special it has been to serve with you and Richard. And yet it’s also been a joy, and that’s something you taught me … .We should be joyful serving this town.” 

Councilperson David Lesser recalled Montgomery’s vociferous role in two issues they worked on in sort of a “good cop, bad cop” manner, demanding Los Angeles undo its disastrous single-lane “road diet” along Vista Del Mar and that SCE do infrastructure upgrades to end the power outages that had become frequent. 

“Richard would proudly refer to his Texan roots, explaining why he would be our rock thrower and I would be more the diplomat,” Lesser said. 

Montgomery quietly corrected him, citing his projectile of choice. “Bricks,” he said. 

Councilmember Nina Tarnay with her family, left to right, daughter Jacqueline, husband Mike, and sons Collin and Christopher. Photo by Kenny Ingle

Franklin, who credited Montgomery with inspiring him to run the first time, thanked the community for its trust, his election team of “mothers on a mission” for their essential role in his reelection, and his family for their unwavering help. 

“There were many issues our council faced these past four years, some more difficult than others. I always did my best to represent the intrinsic values of Manhattan Beach residents when creating and working on solutions,” Franklin said. “I’m blessed to have been helped by my amazing wife of 35 years, Nancy … .I looked to her for advice, and had the wisdom to follow it, although at times she had to deliver it like potty training a puppy, with a rolled up newspaper and a gentle smack. I would listen to my beautiful daughter Taylor, who is here as well. Taylor guided her father through the social media jungle with only a few condescending eye rolls.” 

The new council members likewise arrived at the dais with emphatic support from their families. 

Charelian, whose young sons Knox and Chase at one point joined him on the dais, recalled the moment he realized he’d achieved a victory during his campaign regardless of its outcome. 

“Towards the end of my campaign, my almost six year old son, Knox, who was also my campaign manager, said, ‘Dad, don’t worry if you don’t make it, you’re trying your best. Because I’m going to run for president in 2066,’” Charelian recalled. “Just that statement, I knew I already won in a different way, since my son recognized that anything is attainable if you try your best and work hard.” 

Tarnay’s three children, Jacqueline, Christopher, and Colin, made an impressive appearance during the public comment portion of the meeting, giving a poised and articulate yet exuberant account of their mom’s abilities to balance her career as an attorney with attentive motherhood and joyful civic activism. 

“She’s shown us that you don’t have to choose between hard working and having fun,” said Jacqueline, a recent college graduate from UC Santa Barbara. “You can do both. And honestly, we’re still trying to keep up.” 

After the Tarnay kids spoke, Napolitano, with a wry smile, looked out into the audience, at his young son. 

“That was beautiful,” he said.  “Roman? Nothing.” 

Tarnay beamed as she expressed appreciation for her kids. 

“I also want to give a shout out to MBUSD, because this is what you get when you have kids going through our school system —  they grow up to be great speakers. Thank you. I know it’s not always easy being at the center of the tornadoes that I spin, but I promise this will be the last crazy thing I pull you guys into,” she said, pausing for effect, “this year.” 

Tarnay grew emotional as she made her first remarks from the dais, recalling her arrival in California as a child. 

“I was born in Vietnam, and came to this country as a boat person,

a refugee,” she said. “My family left everything behind in search of a better future. We arrived with little more than a hope and the belief that the American dream was within reach, that no matter how difficult the journey, we could succeed. Who could ever have imagined that the six year old little girl who was once adrift in a vast ocean of unknowns would one day grow up to help our beautiful city navigate its future? That’s the beauty of the American dream. It’s real, it’s possible, and it keeps us moving forward.” 

The most emotional moment of the night was when Napolitano set aside wisecracking (mostly) and gave his farewell from the dais. When he was reelected in 2020, he dedicated his service to his recently departed father, Anthony. As he himself exited from this chapter of his life, he looked out at his mother, Sarah, who was in the audience. 

“It’s been the honor of my life to serve my community, my hometown, the only place I’ve ever called home and ever will,” Napolitano said. “Each campaign, I walked every street and stopped at every door because you’re who mattered most. Serving all of you has been an honor that never gets old, never diminishes, but only increases with time. I’ll continue to serve my community going forward, one way or another.” 

Napolitano, in another rarity, momentarily struggled to speak. He paused to compose himself. 

“In the meantime, I couldn’t be happier to have my 89 year old mom here,” he said. “My dad passed away a few years ago. They were the ones who taught me to always do my best and make a difference. I’ve been trying to do that ever since. I hope I did okay, Mom.” 

See profiles of both Napolitano and Montgomery at EasyReaderNews.com. ER