OPINION EDITORIAL:

Irvine city elections are always eventful. There are often large numbers of diverse candidates, with wildly differing beliefs, seeking to hold office in our city. There are always familiar faces that seem to run every two years. There is always a surprise or two. And this year will be particularly historic given that we are voting during a global health pandemic and government-imposed lockdowns.

We know that most people in the city do not have time (or interest) to pay attention to the constant ebb and flow of Irvine politics so here is a quick primer on some important things you should know because politics in Irvine moves fast and a lot has changed in since we last voted:

Mike Carroll is a Current City Councilman on the Ballot for the First Time

(Mike Carroll)

When Irvine voters look at their ballots, they will see one particular name for the first time: Mike Carroll. Yet, while Carroll is a first-time candidate, he is already a member of the Irvine City Council. That is because Carroll was appointed with bipartisan support on the council to fill a vacancy. The vacancy occurred when then-mayor Don Wagner won a special election to become a member of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. As a result, then-councilwoman (and former mayor) Christina Shea was appointed to fill the mayor role leaving an open seat on the council which Carroll was appointed to.

While Carroll’s name may be new to many voters in Irvine, his reputation among his fellow councilmembers led to his bipartisan support to the City Council. That is because at the time of appointment, he was serving on the city’s planning commission and developed a reputation for a fair, community-focused approach.

Christina Shea is Running for Mayor

(Christina Shea)

Last time voters saw Christina Shea on the ballot she was running for City Council, for which she won. As mentioned above, she was appointed to mayor (a position she has served in before). Now, Shea is running for mayor of Irvine because she believes that the city needs steady leadership in such a tumultuous time. She has made public safety a corner stone of her campaign as well as education, arguably the two issues most Irvinenites hold most dear.

Shea has a long history in Irvine and is one of the most recognizable public figures in the history of the city. She is popular, knows the issues and the players, and has won a lot of elections in the city.

While four candidates in total are running for mayor, the most formidable besides Shea is Farrah Khan, a currently elected member of the City Council. Khan is in her first term ever serving on the City Council and was elected two years ago in what some would call a surprise victory. She and Shea have been allies on the council, and even considered each other friends at one time. The race should be interesting to say the least.

Melissa Fox is Not Seeking Re-election to the Council

Councilwoman Melissa Fox is not seeking re-election to the council in November. That is because she won the Democrat nomination for state Assembly where she is seeking to unseat former Irvine mayor and now-state Assemblyman Steven Choi.

When first elected to the council, Fox was a virtual unknown in Irvine politics. But she was devoted to an intense regimen of door-knocking and meeting with Irvine residents. She also started her own blog which provides a platform for constant commentary of political issues as well as a means to communicate with constituents.

At Least One New Member Will Join the City Council After the Election

At least one new face will be elected to the Irvine City Council this fall. That is because Fox has decided not to run for re-election. But it is also possible that the council could elect two or even three new faces this election season. That is because if Councilwoman Khan wins the mayor’s race, her seat would automatically go to the third-place finisher in the council election according to Irvine city rules. And, if Councilman Carroll were not successful in his bid for election to the council, the city dais would have another new member.

We will be following the city elections very closely in the pages of Irvine Weekly as well as our website IrvineWeekly.com.

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