Who is running to represent Irvine’s new Second District? – Orange County Register

Five candidates are running to represent Irvine’s new District 2 on the City Council, an area that includes Grand Park.

This is the first Irvine City Council district election cycle. Currently, the council has four elected members and an elected mayor. After this election, the council will have six district representatives plus the mayor.

District 2 candidates, in alphabetical order, are: Gang Chen, William Go, Mohamed Kothermydeen Jeff Starke and Parrisa Yazdani.

Gang Chen

Chen, an Irvine resident since 1997, said “recent crime problems, traffic problems and rising housing prices” are the main reasons that motivated him to run again for office. elections.

Chen unsuccessfully ran for Irvine mayor in 2016 and for Irvine City Council in 2018, when he finished 10th out of 12 candidates. City documents show Chen organized a campaign to run for mayor in 2020, but did not run for reelection.

He said he is committed to stopping the expansion of the Bowerman Landfill, one of the largest landfills in the country, near the intersection of Highway 133 and Highway 241.

When it comes to housing, Irvine needs to plan for more than 23,000 new housing units to comply with the state’s housing mandate, and the current City Council has approved a plan to concentrate that housing in three areas of the city , including around the Grand Parc. Chen said he opposed the plan.

“It’s crucial to distribute new developments more evenly (across Irvine),” he said.

Chen earned his master’s degree in architecture and doctorate in planning from USC. He is the director of an architectural firm based in Irvine.

“Achieving Irvine’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2030 will require strong city outreach and collaborative efforts,” he said. “My expertise in sustainable design positions me to effectively contribute to this initiative. I am committed to advancing the development of Irvine in a manner that not only meets, but exceeds environmental sustainability standards. To achieve this, I advocate the integration of cutting-edge green technologies, the promotion of energy-saving practices, and community engagement in sustainable development efforts. My goal is to ensure that Irvine grows in a way that aligns with our climate goals while maintaining our city’s high quality of life.

Guillaume Go

Go is a partner in a commercial real estate asset management company.

Born in the Philippines, Go said he immigrated to the United States as a young child. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a master’s degree in business from UC Irvine. He has lived in Irvine with his wife, Jennifer, for more than two decades.

Go, a member of the Great Park Development Task Force, said leading park development is one of his top priorities, as is preserving open space in Irvine while planning new housing around “walkable and mixed-use projects that help Irvine meet its climate goals and reduce traffic congestion.

Go is also a former city transportation commissioner. He said he would like to see Irvine take specific steps to reach its goal of net zero carbon by 2030. These include installing more electric vehicle charging stations on public properties, completing transitioning the urban fleet to zero-emission vehicles and “advancing local rebates” to spur private investment in solar power, heat pumps, electric vehicle chargers and other green energy technologies .

Mohamed Kothermydine

Kothermydeen, IT services manager, said he will work with other community members and get recommendations from experts to identify what is most needed in Irvine and work collaboratively to make things happen.

“I will take our city to a world-class level by assembling (a) team of community experts and a strategic plan with input from every resident,” he said.

He said he would focus on developing a strategic plan for Irvine to meet housing and climate goals, but did not provide further details.

From a leadership perspective, Kothermydeen said, “I have always cared, helped and served others, since childhood, with dignity and great value for the humanity and diversity of the community. »

Jeff Starke

A small business owner and self-proclaimed “PTA Dad,” Starke and his family have lived in District 2 for nearly 10 years.

On housing, Starke said he supports updating Irvine’s General Plan, including zoning for more housing in District 2.

“These housing units will allow more people who commute to Irvine to live in our city,” he said. “This will help reduce car travel and pollution. It provides plenty of middle-income housing for the type of people and jobs the city needs to function, such as teachers, firefighters and nurses. I believe these housing units can be a catalyst for a more robust transit system that can help us reduce traffic congestion and transportation pollution.

Starke added that he is committed to moving forward with the many projects planned in the Great Park and will hold monthly town hall meetings to keep residents informed of project updates.

On climate, Starke said he would push the city to finalize a climate action and adaptation plan with implementable goals. This summer, the current City Council directed staff to finalize the city’s climate action plan, which, while solid, has remained in draft form for years.

“Transitioning Irvine to a greener future is an important priority for me,” he said. “Irvine can be a leader in how a city transitions to clean energy while protecting our quality of life and business community.”

Parissa Yazdani

Yazdani, a mother of three school-age children, is an independent construction contractor and planning commissioner.

Her top priorities are public safety and wildfire preparedness, affordable housing and facilitating small business development, including “dedicated portions of new commercial space for local small business owners,” she said. declared.

Yazdani said she also supports the city’s climate goals.

“At the local level, we must take steps to work towards a carbon-free economy, both in new developments and in municipal services,” she said. “That means 100% renewable energy, updating our energy grid and transforming city facilities and vehicle fleets using energy-efficient technologies.”

Learn more about where each candidate stands on important issues in the OC Register Voter’s Guide at ocregister.com/voter-guide/.