The City of Irvine is holding its general municipal election for the next mayor and city council members on Nov. 5. There are seven total mayoral candidates: Felipe Delgado, Larry Agran, Wing Chow, Akshat Bhatia, Tammy Kim, Ron Scolesdang and Lee Sun, according to the City of Irvine.
City council member candidates for District 1 include Michelle Johnson, Jackie Kan, Jeff Kitchen, Melinda Liu and John Park. District 2 candidates are Gang Chen, William Go, Mohamed Kothermydeen, Jeff Starke and Parrisa Yazdani. As for District 3, candidates are Tom Chomyn, James Mai and Jing Sun. Candidates for District 4 include Mike Carroll and Ayn Craciun.
While campaign posters throughout the city highlight various policy plans, here’s a more personal spotlight on four mayoral candidates and their experiences that shaped who they are today:
Larry Agran, Public Interest Attorney and City Vice Mayor
First elected to Irvine City Council in 1978, Agran focused on environmental preservation and social equity, according to his campaign website. From over 20 years on the council, Agran has secured over 10,000 acres of preserved open space, fought for affordable housing and led the city to pass one of the first municipal bans on ozone-depleting substances.
“What keeps me grounded is a chance to talk to people,” Agran said. “Talk to people not only in terms of asking them to vote for me, but to ask them about their concerns, their aspirations for their families, for themselves and for their city.”
Additionally, he enacted Orange County’s first Human Rights and Living Wage Ordinance, which promotes equal treatment and increases the minimum wage. Agran’s dedication to the city extends to veteran support, securing a state-operated Veterans Memorial Park, and has recently aided in replacing a hazardous asphalt plant with a 700-acre “Gateway Preserve.”
Tammy Kim, Business Executive and City Council Councilmember
Kim has a history of prioritizing economic development, public safety, housing accessibility and environmental sustainability through her record of initiatives. Growing up in a household where her immigrant parents operated a small business that she assisted with, she learned the value of resilience and community firsthand.
“These experiences are the foundation of my dedication to serving our community today,” Kim said. “I understand the challenges that many immigrant families face, especially when language barriers prevent them from accessing crucial resources. That’s why I’m a passionate advocate for language access.”
Committed to city safety, she has secured funding for security enhancements, launched Irvine’s Hate Crime Reporting Portal and improved electric bike regulations. Additionally, her housing efforts focus on increasing affordable and workforce housing through infill projects and establishing Irvine’s Sustainability Commission, according to her campaign website.
Ron Scolesdang, Entrepreneur and Professional Martial Artist
Scolesdang is a local business owner with a focus on transparency, safety and community protection per his campaign website. Scolesdang aims to prioritize transparency within the city council, wanting to hold elected officials accountable and end self-serving politics. Committed to improving city safety, he has proposed a large-scale road safety program to address electric bike regulations, especially for young riders.
“Not just for self defense, but for discipline, on structure, on confidence, on family values,” Scolesdang said. “It literally has shaped everything in my life, from personal to business to faith and everything and it’s worked. Everything that I’ve done has been fairly successful, and I attribute it to the structure I’ve learned through martial arts.”
With his martial arts background, he also pledges to advocate for senior residents and co-founded “Seniors Fight Back,” a nonprofit providing self-defense workshops for the elderly to protect and defend themselves. Confronting a rising crime rate, Scolesdang intends to strengthen collaboration with local law enforcement to restore a sense of safety and security.
Wing Chow, Retired Certified Public Accountant
Chow is a long-time resident of Irvine who is focused on strengthening community resources. Chow aims to enhance school quality to ensure all students have access to high-standard learning opportunities, according to his campaign website. He also plans to expand affordable housing options to support city equity while supporting local businesses and attracting new job opportunities to fuel economic growth.
“My attitude is that I want to make friends with everyone, not one single enemy,” Chow said. “For every day, I live again. In the morning, I want positive energy to everyone I’m in touch with, whether the person is good or bad.”
Embracing Irvine’s diversity, Chow aims to foster inclusivity through prioritizing healthcare as a fundamental right, advocating for accessible and quality medical services to every citizen.
