Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below.
Read more Cindy Ngoc Tran, Garden Grove City Council District 3 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Name: Thomas Quoc Thai Nguyen
Age: 63
Current job title: Media Businessman
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Garden Grove
Campaign website or social media: thomasquocthainguyen.com
How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower price points, while also preserving local control and the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Meeting state housing mandates while protecting single-family neighborhoods requires intentional planning. Rather than imposing high-density development in existing residential neighborhoods, Garden Grove must focus growth along major commercial corridors, mixed-use zones/redevelopment, and underutilized parcels. This allows property owners to maximize their land value by building higher-density housing above retail, keeping state-mandated growth away from quiet, single-family neighborhoods
Garden Grove should preserve the low-density commercial character of the historic Little Saigon and Koreatown business hubs. Instead of government-subsidized projects that displace minority mom-and-pop owners, the city should reduce red tape, lower minimum parking mandates, and fast-track privately funded infill projects.
To deliver housing at lower price points, we should empower individual homeowners to exercise their property rights by streamlining ADU approvals. This creates private-market, lower-cost housing — ideal for multi-generational immigrant families — without spending taxpayer dollars or utilizing eminent domain. Further, partner with nonprofit affordable housing developers to leverage state and federal funding programs. Utilize public-private partnerships on city-owned land to ensure a portion of new units remain permanently affordable.
How should the city balance rising costs, paying off debts, such as pension liabilities, and building reserves, all while meeting residents’ needs? Should a solution involve finding new revenue, economic development, trimming the budget, or something else entirely? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Fiscal sustainability requires a balanced approach that combines responsible economic growth, prudent budget management, and proactive debt paydown.
Rather than pursuing new taxes, the city must unlock revenue through economic growth. By cutting red tape, we can attract private investment, boost sales and property tax revenues, and expand the municipal tax base.
Maximizing revenue from key commercial zones — including hotel developments along the resort corridor and mixed-use commercial projects—generates sales and Transient Occupancy Tax. This revenue supports essential city services without increasing taxes on local residents.
We must audit municipal operations to identify efficiencies, eliminate duplicative programs, and utilize modern technology to lower administrative overhead. Every dollar saved can directly strengthen public safety and city infrastructure.
To address long-term unfunded pension liabilities (CalPERS), the city must direct a fixed portion of annual budget surpluses straight toward paying down unfunded pension liabilities. This targeted approach reduces long-term debt drag without stripping funding from vital community services.
Lastly, we must maintain a strong General Fund reserve to safeguard against economic downturns — protect public safety by keeping the budget lean elsewhere. Municipal spending should remain strictly focused on core infrastructure, maintaining healthy reserves, and fully funding our law enforcement and first responders.
The public expects transparency from public leaders in spending and governance. How can this be achieved? How can the city do better in this area? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
True transparency requires moving beyond basic compliance to provide proactive, accessible information. Residents deserve straightforward access to how their tax dollars are spent and how local policy decisions are made. Garden Grove can achieve this through targeted digital and communication upgrades.
The city can launch a “Financial Transparency” site online in real time. This tool would allow residents to easily track municipal spending, vendor contracts, pension liabilities, and exact allocations for law enforcement and first responders in real time.
Read more Patrick Phat Bui, Garden Grove City Council District 4 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
The city should permanently livestream and archive all city council, committee, and planning commission meetings. With AI-technology, real-time closed captioning and translated materials into Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese ensures our mono-lingual seniors and families in Little Saigon and Koreatown can fully participate.
Following recent local industrial events, particularly GKN, the city must implement an immediate, multi-language emergency notification system. Residents deserve instant, direct updates regarding localized public health and safety matters without delays.
By modernizing public access and eliminating information barriers, Garden Grove can foster deep civic trust while keeping our community safe, clean, and green.
In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
The single biggest need facing Garden Grove is balancing public safety and neighborhood quality of life with infrastructure and commercial revitalization. A thriving city must feel safe, look clean, and support local businesses.
Safeguarding public health and improving industrial safety oversight are key concerns with the recent GKN Aerospace chemical crisis. The toxic leak forced 50,000 residents to be evacuated and exposed systemic gaps in how the city manages hazardous materials in close proximity to residential zones. Rising housing costs have increasingly forced younger generations to leave the city they call home.
Long-term affordable housing options remain scarce, and local demographics have shifted toward a younger unhoused population with fentanyl abuse.
I would advocate for the city council to implement rigorous, independent safety audits for all high-risk facilities operating near neighborhoods and local schools. Ensure the police department is fully staffed and equipped to maintain fast emergency response times. Expand community policing efforts and proactive outreach teams to address property crime, traffic safety, and neighborhood security.
Utilize regional partnerships, specialized homeless outreach teams, and supportive services to connect individuals with assistance, while enforcing local public space ordinances to keep streets, parks, and business corridors clean and safe. A focus on foundational services ensures our neighborhoods remain safe, proud, and resilient.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
A good leader for Garden Grove must prioritize transparent governance, collaborative partnerships, and community-driven safety. Effective leadership means listening, working collaboratively, and delivering practical results. I hold myself to a high standard of accountability, maintain a strong attention to detail, and carry a deep commitment to public service.
District 3 is one of the most culturally dynamic areas in Orange County, bridging Little Saigon and Koreatown. For more than 40 years, I have worked alongside business owners, working families, laborers, and professionals throughout Orange County. These experiences have taught me to listen, understand people’s concerns, and treat everyone with fairness and respect. True representation requires meeting residents where they are. Because I help run the QT Golden Market Place & Food Court in the heart of Koreatown, I interact with many community members daily. I am committed to maintaining an open-door policy, actively seeking input from every neighborhood, and ensuring our city communications and outreach reflect our community’s multilingual diversity.
I offer grounded, common-sense leadership that prioritizes neighborhood safety, fiscal responsibility, and clean, well-maintained communities.
Read more Joe DoVinh, Garden Grove City Council District 4 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire