Author: Franklin J. Lunding

The person with the most money should not be allowed to buy a seat on the City Council. That’s what Irvine voters made clear back in the 1980s when they passed a ballot measure that put a limit on how much an individual could donate to a political candidate running for local office. In the November election, that contribution limit is $620.

In the race for Mayor, Tammy Kim has received most of her campaign donations — about 60% — from out-of-town business interests. She’s also relying on two newly created big-money political committees to get around Irvine’s campaign contribution limit.

I am an experienced elections attorney. Years ago, I was General Counsel for the Illinois Elections Law Commission. I also served as Chair of the Illinois State Board of Elections — an independent state agency responsible for administering and enforcing campaign finance and election laws.

Read more here.

Independence Day, also called Fourth of July, is America’s annual celebration of nationhood. The holiday commemorates the Declaration of Independence, adopted by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776. It’s a time to come together as Americans to honor our revolutionary history —  and our military — through parades, concerts filled with patriotic music, and awe-inspiring fireworks.

Regardless of how you plan to spend the day, we urge our readers to take some time to reflect on the many sacrifices our brave men and women — both those in uniform as well as civilians — have made these past 248 years to keep our nation free.

Memorial Day is a time for Americans to reflect on the sacrifices that military personnel and their families make to keep us all safe, and to mourn those who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

For nearly a decade, land developers and the politicians they control have tried time and again to stop the project. In fact, it took two citizen-led petition campaigns, a vote by Irvine residents, and sending Larry Agran back to the City Council in 2020 and 2022 with voter mandates to start construction of the Veterans Memorial Park, which finally began last year.

As we commemorate Earth Day on April 22nd, elected officials will no doubt talk about their bold...