Candidates for District 5 Special Election
At its December 10, 2024, meeting, the City Council called for the holding of a Special Municipal Election to be held on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, for the election of a Councilmember representing Council District 5 to serve through the end of 2026. Here are the candidates for the upcoming Special Election for District 5 which consists of the villages of Woodbridge, Westpark, University Park, and Rancho San Joaquin.
Ballot Drop Off is now open, with Voting Centers opening up on April 1st.
(Candidates are listed in Last Name, alphabetical order)
Dana Cornelius
[Campaign Website][Form FPPC 470]
Small Business Owner
Candidate Statement
Betty Martinez Franco
[Campaign Website][Form FPPC 460]
Small Business Owner
Candidate Statement
Anthony Kuo
[Campaign Website][Form FPPC 460]
Irvine Commissioner/Businessman
Candidate Statement
We asked the three candidates questions about where they stand on some issues involving Irvine. Answers have only been edited for spelling and punctuation.
Irvine Watchdog: Many residents struggle with housing costs in our area. Do you believe this is primarily a supply shortage or an affordability issue? What policies would you implement as a councilmember to address this challenge?
Dana Cornelius:
It’s both. Irvine is extremely attractive to many life stages: students, entry level job seekers, young families and retired folk. Why? Public safety, its proximity to LA and SD, the performing arts, beach, mountains and desert. Its superior schools, parks, and bike trails are most attractive to the family unit. The list of reasons to move here seems to go on ad infinitum. The public demand for open space retention is the driving force that keeps housing costs high, which alone, may not be the reason why folks move away. Combine housing expenses with college and car loans, medical costs, and insurance. Child rearing costs, who can afford to even live anymore? Gosh. I remember my late father talking about how there were no young people in the suburbs of Pittsburgh where we lived for a short time. Once students graduated, they were off to more affordable areas. They couldn’t even afford property taxes on starter salaries. That was 30 years ago!
I like what is already being done to open up lower rents to those Irvinites who’ve fallen on hard times. The Irvine Company will be instrumental in this process.
What I don’t like hearing about is our 1st responders having to uproot their kids and move elsewhere. 1st responders need the option to live in the city for which they serve. I shall explore ways to make that option available.
Betty Martinez Franco:
I think it’s a supply shortage and an affordability issue. The cost of living is making it hard for people to afford anything right now, and we need solutions that help working families, students, and old adults today, not 50 years from now. At the same time, we have to recognize that our population is growing, and we can’t ignore the long-term need for more housing. But growth has to be responsible. That means ensuring we build in places that make sense while developing the infrastructure supporting a growing community, like enough schools, walkable neighborhoods, public transportation, and shopping centers.
Irvine’s Master Plan has worked for over half a century, and we need to protect the character of our villages. But that doesn’t mean we stop planning for the future. I will support Mayor Agran’s idea of expanding affordable housing options outlined in his recent State of the City address for teachers, nurses, firefighters, and students who currently can’t afford to live where they work and study. We can incentivize mixed-use development near transit hubs and shopping centers to reduce traffic and make communities more walkable.
At the end of the day, people should be able to live in the city they love without feeling priced out.
Anthony Kuo:
Affordability isn’t just an Irvine problem, it’s an issue in communities throughout all of California. That said, Irvine’s exceptional quality of life, incredible public school system, community safety, and healthy economy do put housing here in greater demand than perhaps other cities.
During my time on the City Council, I served as President of the Irvine Community Land Trust, where we brought together the City, private land owners, and developers to deliver additional apartments and homes to Irvine’s housing supply. As a result of the Land Trust’s efforts, policies already require at least 15% of new housing units to be built. To be affordable, Irvine is home to more units of additional housing than any other city in Orange County. I worked with the Land Trust to lobby officials in Washington, DC to make it easier to finance affordable for-sale homes. The City should continue this unique partnership with the Land Trust to continue exploring creative solutions and delivering for those who work and serve in Irvine and who want to live here. But, let’s be clear about affordable housing; it’s subsidized by developers and taxpayers.
Irvine Watchdog: How would you evaluate iConnect’s performance in serving our community? What improvements or changes would you prioritize to enhance its effectiveness?
Dana Cornelius:
Buses and trains were a way of life while I grew up. Everyone rode them. Cars were gladly left behind. In Southern California, we’re attached to our cars. They’ve become a status symbol. Hard to change that mindset.
So we’ll just have to work on ways to take the stigma out of using public transit. Make riding the bus fun again. I have some great ideas to help make that happen. I’d gladly take iConnect, but it’d take 20 minutes just to walk to the nearest bus stop. Clearly, we need more routes. Since I’ve spoken to hundreds of constituents on my campaign trail, I believe I know exactly where more routes are needed.
Betty Martinez Franco:
As a communications expert, I know that community outreach is the key to the success of any program. iConnect has been well received by the community, but to maximize its impact, it needs the same outreach efforts as any other public transportation service. That means having a strong presence at public events and fairs, conducting public surveys, and ensuring people know about the service and how to use it.
I would prioritize expanding routes during peak times and summertime. For example, adding direct routes from central locations like Woodbridge Village Center to Laguna Beach trolley stops, Wild Rivers, or the Spectrum during the summer would encourage more young adults to take public transit instead of driving. These added routes could help ease traffic congestion and diminish the risk of accidents during the 100 Deadliest Days of Summer, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, when teen car crashes increase.
Another improvement would be offering special event routes from key locations so residents can rely on iConnect to get to large gatherings, concerts, or community festivals without worrying about parking or traffic. Expanding its reach and making it a more convenient and well-known option will help more people take advantage of it, ultimately reducing cars on the road and supporting a greener, more connected Irvine.
Anthony Kuo:
In order for iConnect to be successful, ridership needs to increase. iConnect’s precursor, the iShuttle, had routes that were costing Taxpayers over $120 for a one-way, less than 3-mile ride. That’s not sustainable, it’s not responsible, and with empty buses driving around town, it’s not green, either. As a Councilmember, I’ll push for public outreach to not only hear from current users and advocates, but to hear from those who aren’t currently riding iConnects to find out why and solve that question!
Make no mistake, I want iConnect to be successful; this is an incredible service that my grandmother, who helped raise me and lived with us until she was 83, would have used!
Irvine Watchdog: What issues do you see as most important to residents in District 5? As a councilmember, what approaches would you take to address these community concerns?
Dana Cornelius:
I’ve addressed these at length in both my town halls. The needs are many and we’ve come up with solutions for the majority of them. Folks are concerned about parking, traffic, and other issues caused by ADUs. They don’t want them. D5, the original Irvine as a PUD or Planned Unit Development, is already maxed out. We need a moratorium on ADUs.
Betty Martinez Franco:
District 5 is one of Irvine’s oldest and most established areas, and the issues that matter most to residents reflect that. Housing affordability is a top concern. Many of our teachers, nurses, firefighters, and even students who study here can’t afford to live in the city they serve. As a council member, I would prioritize working with developers, the Mayor, and other city council members to find the best solutions to housing affordability that adhere to Irvine’s Master Plan and protect the character of our villages. We still need to plan for the future, but we need to make sure we have the necessary infrastructure in place, such as schools, public transit, and walkable neighborhoods before we move forward with further developments.
Supporting small businesses is also critical. I know firsthand the challenges of running a business, and I will work to cut through red tape, provide more resources, and advocate for policies that allow small businesses to thrive. When our local businesses succeed, our economy becomes stronger, benefiting everyone.
Another primary concern is traffic congestion and improving other forms of transit mobility. I want to protect and improve our bike paths, expand bus routes, and create a permanent e-bike education program in collaboration with the police department so parents, guardians, and children can safely navigate our streets. We must ensure Irvine remains a leader in mobility and sustainability while keeping our residents safe.
My approach to solving these issues is simple: listen to the community, bring people together to find practical solutions, and take action.
Anthony Kuo:
As Irvine continues its way toward district representation (Districts 5 and 6 are still underrepresented), it will be critical to balance the needs of the District one is elected from and the City as a whole. I’m grateful for the opportunity to have served the entire city as a Commissioner and Councilmember for over a decade, but also to have the unique perspective of someone who has grown up in District 5 and who has lived here (in both University Park and Woodbridge) for over 30 years. That balance is critical, and I’m up for the task.
As for specific issues, we need to continue to mitigate overdevelopment with smart investments in infrastructure like our roads, bicycle trails, libraries, and parks. We also must continue our efforts towards being a sustainable community by looking at the City’s rooftop solar plan, planting more trees, and exploring technologies to make city government more efficient and user-friendly.
Community safety must continue to be our number one priority, though. As safe as our statistics say we are, mischief and trouble still happen around town, and we need to work in partnership with our Police Department and the community to ensure everyone feels safe living, working, learning, enjoying, and visiting Irvine. And, lastly, it’s expensive living in Irvine, so we need to make sure we’re running City Hall in an effective way without waste where our residents feel like they’re getting the government they pay for because they’re actually paying for it!
Irvine Watchdog: Regarding Irvine’s participation in the Orange County Fire Authority: Is our community receiving services proportionate to our financial contribution? What would you use to evaluate this relationship, and what changes might you advocate for?
Dana Cornelius:
Will need further insights or investigation. This kind of change requires two things: 1. must make financial sense where the savings are so substantial and that arguably could be used in other important ways to serve the residents of Irvine. 2. Safety must not be compromised in any way, shape or form.
I’ve talked with firemen, and they don’t want to lose their equipment, training, brotherhood or branding. Understandable. I’ve also spoken with those in finance who state, as big of a city as Irvine is, fire needs to be brought in-house because it would save the city some ~60M a year.
So we have some polarization. If the aforementioned criteria are met, I don’t see any why we can’t make a transition a win-win.
Betty Martinez Franco:
Although I am not yet familiar with the entire budget the OCFA receives in exchange for their services, building a closer relationship with them and understanding their needs is important.
To evaluate this relationship, I would look at response times, staffing levels, equipment availability, and overall service quality compared to other cities within the OCFA. It is also important to hear directly from our firefighters and residents to understand where improvements may be needed.
If changes are necessary, I would advocate for better resource allocation to ensure our city gets the level of service it deserves. That could mean negotiating for additional personnel, updated equipment, or improved emergency preparedness programs. We also need to ensure that as our city grows, fire and emergency services expand accordingly to keep up with new developments and population increases.
Public safety is a priority, and I want to work closely with OCFA to ensure that Irvine remains one of the safest cities in the country. This isn’t just about funding; it’s about making sure we have a strong partnership with the people who serve Irvine.
Anthony Kuo:
Irvine is absolutely not receiving services proportionate to our financial contribution. Estimates I have seen show Irvine Taxpayers paying $140 million into the Fire Authority to receive $60 million in services; that’s more than double.
When I served on the Orange County Fire Authority Board, Irvine accounted for nearly 25% of OCFA’s revenue, but 4% of its voting power. For $140 million, we have the same say on decisions as Stanton or Villa Park. We need to have a serious conversation with the Orange County Fire Authority about doing right by Irvine Taxpayers.
Irvine Watchdog: With rising electricity transmission costs affecting residents, what role do you see for the Orange County Power Authority? What policies would you support to ensure reliable, affordable power while advancing our sustainability goals?
Dana Cornelius:
Having options is the American way. We don’t need surprises on our monthly bill; therefore, transparency is critically important. An “opt-in” program must be the new standard.
Betty Martinez Franco:
The Orange County Power Authority has the potential to be a real asset for Irvine, but it needs to be managed responsibly to ensure residents are getting reliable, affordable energy while we continue to advance our sustainability goals. Rising electricity costs are already putting a strain on families, and we need to ensure that any energy policies don’t pass unnecessary financial burdens onto residents or small businesses.
I support policies that promote a balanced approach to clean energy, expanding renewable sources like solar and wind while keeping costs predictable. We must increase transparency and accountability within the OCPA so residents know where their money is going and how decisions are made. It is also important to explore incentives for homeowners and businesses to adopt solar energy and battery storage, which can help lower overall demand and reduce costs in the long run.
At the same time, we have to recognize that sustainability efforts must be paired with infrastructure improvements. Investing in a more resilient energy grid will help prevent outages and improve efficiency, especially as Irvine continues to grow. I would also push for stronger partnerships with state and federal programs that provide funding for clean energy initiatives so we are not putting all the financial responsibility on our local community.
The goal should be to provide a greener future while keeping energy costs fair and manageable. If we do this right, Irvine can lead sustainability without sacrificing affordability.
Anthony Kuo:
The Orange County Power Authority was a great idea and I supported its creation. Mismanagement took over, drama and name-calling from other cities has continued to ensue, and now Irvine finds itself again holding the short end of the stick. We need to make significant strides to be green and reduce our energy consumption, but I’m not convinced OCPA is the right way.
We need to get in there to really find out what’s going on. Even Councilmember Treseder, one of OCPA’s most ardent advocates and a then-Board Member said she couldn’t get transparent answers from them.
