Author: Franklin J. Lunding

Here at Irvine Community News & Views (ICNV), we encourage Irvine voters: “Don’t stop at the top!” Too many voters only vote for candidates at the top of the ballot. But, our quality of life here in Irvine is determined largely by the candidates toward the bottom of the ballot. What impacts our daily lives is the quality and character of the Mayor and Councilmembers we elect … and the governing leadership they provide.

So, where do the candidates for City office stand on the leading issues? What promises have they made … and kept … or broken? Are they leaders we can trust to listen to the City’s residents and implement the will of the voters?

Based on their voting records, responses to the ICNV candidate questionnaire, and interviews I have conducted, our ICNV staff has prepared an Irvine Issues 2022 Chart for the leading candidates running for Mayor and City Council.

Accordingly, ICNV endorses former Irvine Community Services Commissioner Branda Lin for Mayor of Irvine.  During her years as an editor and journalist for Irvine Watchdog, Branda helped to shed light on the health concerns of north Irvine residents who are living right next to an asphalt plant (AAA). Branda also reported on the incompetence and corruption at the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA), and has exposed Mayor Farrah Khan’s non-existent Climate Action Plan.

The shadowy political committee was created explicitly to attack pro-resident Councilman Larry Agran … and to help Agran’s pro-developer opponent Anthony Kuo in the race for City Council.

Over the years, Irvine developers — using dark money committees — have bankrolled disgusting political attack mailers against Agran. Former Irvine Mayor and current Councilmember Larry Agran has a long history of refusing to rubber-stamp massive development projects.

Irvine has a 5-member City Council. Three of the five are seeking re-election this fall. Mayor Farrah Khan is running for a second 2-year term, and Councilmembers Anthony Kuo and Larry Agran are seeking election to a 4-year Council term.  I’ll have plenty to say about the Mayor’s race soon, but for now, I want to offer my “publisher’s perspective” on the Council race.

Khan’s disappointing performance as Mayor includes flip-flopping on the Irvine voter-approved citizens’ initiative to build the state-funded Veterans Memorial Park at the Great Park.

It’s not the only issue where Khan has been on the wrong side. Khan worked with her appointed Vice Mayor Anthony Kuo and Councilman Mike Carroll to establish the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) using millions of Irvine taxpayer dollars. Beginning October 1st, all Irvine residents will be transferred from their current provider of electricity — Southern California Edison — and automatically enrolled in the new OCPA electricity plan, at a significantly higher monthly rate, unless they actively opt-out.