Nice to Meet Ya: Taline Manassian

Meet Taline Manassian. As Dripping Springs’ Mayor Pro-Tem, she is a busy person. Keeping up with an ever-expanding city is an effort in itself, especially with the unique situation due to the coronavirus. But Taline (pronounced Tay-leen) Manassian is also a full time attorney.

Growing up in Corpus Christi, her father was in the oil industry. “One of dad’s friends was a lawyer,” Manassian said. “When I was in middle school or high school and worked at, or really just hung out at his law firm which handled criminal cases... and for dad’s friend, I would read transcripts of cases.” That gave her an introduction to a career as an attorney, “but (being a lawyer) wasn’t a lifelong dream,” Manassian said.

As a University of Texas graduate, her folks moved to Henly and she wanted to stay in the area. “It’s good to be close to them,” she said about her parents who now live in Dripping Springs.

It was her dad that convinced her to stay in UT law school, when she wanted to quit. In fact, she went to the Registrar with the intent of quitting. “It was not a lifelong vision or anything like that. I hated law school. It was not the place for me. The registrar was home with a sick kid (on the day Manassian walked in to drop law school, so it didn’t happen). “I told dad and he said finish law school for me. I have dad to thank for that,” she said.

So, she stuck it out. “It was a rough environment, a competitive place.” Looking for a job was next. She sent resumes everywhere and landed a position with a small firm. “I fell in with an incredible group of people.” She left that firm after four years in 2007 and returned in 2011 [where she is now] after working for a few other firms.

Her job entails mostly conducting research for other lawyers in the firm, preferring to stay in the background. But as an elected official, she can’t stay in the background. “I’d prefer to do writing the rest of my life.”

So, how did her run for city council come about? “Friends called me and asked me to consider running. That is the most ridiculous thing I ever heard. I was dismissive, but it piqued an interest in me,” Manassian explained. “I explored why am I being dismissive of this? But it was a frightening thought to be on the ballot. Scary is not a good enough reason (to stop me).”

The next step was to file. “I sat in the parking lot, in my car shaking.” It was the last day to register for the city council position, and she was afraid of her decision in placing her name on the ballot.

“I knew I didn’t have the background, but I can learn…. it became fun,” she said. “It is a nice way to talk to people. I love knocking on doors. It’s frightening and fascinating,” she said. Her law firm has been very supportive and now that she and others at the firm work from home, she saves an hour each way by not driving into Austin on a daily basis.

As for one of the best parts about serving on the Dripping Springs City Council? Manassian said it’s about perspective. “It is most satisfying to talk to someone that is skeptical or not on board about a subject and then explain it and then [that person says] ‘Oh, that makes sense.’ There’s a joint light bulb that goes on…we both learn as we can know where both are coming from,” she explained.

The coronavirus pandemic has resulted in big changes, with courtrooms and city meetings occurring via Zoom and other technological platforms. But as a councilperson, the current situation is hard in many ways.

“I hate to see the impact on the community. What businesses can survive? How does this impact the community? We don’t know how long it is going to be.”

One part of her life though, helps her get through the rough times. “I exercise, mostly for endurance. I’m a tri-athlete. That has kept me sane. I run or swim or get on a bike and ride. It's good for your mental health,” she said. Manassian has also taken up the hobby of knitting after receiving some knitting needles as a Christmas gift. “I’m happy knitting at home,” she said. Manassian has also taken trapeze lessons.

And when it comes to just being a member of the community in Dripping Springs, “It is a pure blessing and I have a lot of love for this town I live in.”