Council Member since November 2025
Term Expires: November 2026

5275 Orange Avenue
Cypress, CA 90630

Telephone: 714-229-6699
Fax: 714-229-3392
Email Council Member Strong Carnahan

Council Member Rachel Strong Carnahan was appointed to the Cypress City Council in November 2025 and is serving her first term. She has previously run for City Council twice and was the first runner-up in her most recent election.

Council Member Carnahan is a longtime local business owner and has owned a dance studio for 18 years, with 14 of those years located in Cypress. Her studio provides youth with access to the fine and performing arts, offers merit-based scholarships, and includes an adaptive dance program serving differently abled children. She employs approximately 20 people and successfully sustained her business through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Council Member Carnahan holds a degree in History and Business from Loyola Marymount University and attended a postgraduate program at The Queen’s College, Oxford.

Council Member Carnahan served on the Cypress Senior Commission and values strong partnerships with local schools and support for local businesses. She prioritizes public safety through collaboration with local police and fire services and supports the fiscal prudence that has contributed to Cypress’s long-standing financial stability.

A lifelong Cypress resident, Council Member Carnahan attended preschool on a farm when the city was still largely rural and has witnessed each stage of its growth. She is proud of Cypress’s balance of tradition and progress and is committed to preserving the character of the community while planning thoughtfully for the future.

She is married to her husband, Matthew, a screenwriter and artist, and they have a teenage son, Beau, who attends local schools.

Council Member Strong Carnahan currently represents the City of Cypress on the following boards and committees:

• Joint Forces Training Base Regional Military Affairs Committee – Representative
• Veterans Recognition Ad Hoc Subcommittee
• West Cities Police Communications Center – Alternate