Irvine City Council, District 5

The incumbent, on the council since December 2022. She came to the United States more than 30 years ago, working as a farm and hotel laborer; after surviving domestic violence, she says the nonprofit Human Options helped her and her two daughters find safe, affordable housing in Irvine. She went on to earn a Master of Public Administration from USC and build a small business, and now serves on the Orange County Fire Authority board. She points to expanded support for seniors and working families, protecting the University Park Library, hosting Irvine's first Women's Conference, and launching the city's bike-share pilot as her first-term record, and says she wants to keep the city affordable for seniors, working families, and "financially vulnerable residents."

A former Irvine councilmember (four years, at-large, before the city's shift to district elections) and, before that, an eight-year city commissioner, now seeking a return to the council from District 5. He grew up in Irvine and attended its public schools. He says that in his final year on the council, Irvine projected a budget surplus of nearly $30 million, and that he led the effort to return roughly $5 million of it to taxpayers; he's campaigning on restoring what he calls fiscal discipline at City Hall, protecting quality of life, and greater affordability.

A small business owner and 31-year Woodbridge resident who has raised two children in the district and volunteered more than 14 years in local Scouting. He served as Chief of Staff to Irvine's Vice Mayor, working on the city's budget deficit and building relationships with city staff and department directors; he has run his own international business since 2005 and serves on the Irvine Community Alliance Fund board. His priorities are balancing the budget without cutting essential services, public safety, infrastructure maintenance, and keeping the University Park Library open.

An Iraq War veteran and 40-year Irvine resident who grew up attending the district's own public schools (Springbrook Elementary, Lakeside Middle, Woodbridge High) and Irvine Valley College. He worked as a Public Safety Assistant for the Irvine Police Department and served as a reserve firefighter with the Orange County Fire Authority; he's the Cubmaster for a local, 50-family Scout pack and says he organized a safety team for Orange County pro-democracy rallies. Now a cybersecurity manager, he says he wants to help build out Irvine's own library system -- families currently drive to Tustin for better selection, he says -- alongside budget transparency and accountability.

A housing specialist and UC Irvine graduate whose professional background includes evaluating proposals, negotiating contracts, and solving complex problems -- skills she says translate directly to reviewing city budgets, development agreements, and public contracts. She volunteers with Irvine Meals on Wheels and Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and serves on the board of directors for UCI Health Family Health Centers. She names public safety, open space, responsible growth, and Irvine's quality of life as her priorities.