Follow The Money: Council Candidates Campaign Donations at a Glance
We are approximately a month away from Irvine’s City Council election for Districts 1, 5, 6, and the Mayor’s seat, which is voted on at-large. Per campaign finance disclosure rules, candidates that declared their candidacy were required to submit a Form 460 which requires all donations above a certain amount to be disclosed and publicly viewable.
The campaign donations listed below are current as of September 19, 2026. The financial information gleaned from the Form 460 does not include dark money or independent expenditures from outside groups. For instance, during the 2024 City Council election cycle, the biggest Political Action Committee (PAC) special interest spender was the Republican right-wing Lincoln Club of Orange County spending $340,700 in support of Republican candidates. The PAC expenditures are not listed on the individual donors Form 460 and will be analyzed in a follow-up article later this month.
To view the candidates election financial reporting, click here.
Larry Agran’s Notable Donors: Irvine Planning Commissioner Raj Bhatia, Laguna Woods resident Vicki Johnson, Irvine Finance Commissioner Don Geller.
*Does not include in-kind contributions from Agran’s affiliated news publication, Irvine Community News & Views (ICNV).
Read articles about ICNV:
- [Opinion] Irvine Community News and Views Is a Danger to Public Trust
- Ethical Lines Blurred or Crossed? ICNV News or Propaganda?
Maksim Egorov’s Notable Donors: Former Mayor of Irvine Sally Anne Sheridan, retired Irvine Company Senior Vice President & Oak Creek “open space” advocate Michael Leblank.
Melinda Liu’s Notable Donors: Planned Parenthood, OC Young Democrats, Irvine Teachers Association former president Theresa Sorey, Irvine Chief of Staff Meredith Marquis, UCI Professor Kev Abazajian, Americans4Hindus, UCI Professor Dr. Steven Allisson, Edison International Civic Action Committee, California State Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris, Irvine Community & Library Services Commissioner Doug Elliott, Tustin City Councilmember Lee Fink, Irvine Planning Commissioner Jeff Starke, Irvine City Councilmember William Go, Lavender Democrats.
Sukhee Kang’s Notable Donors: South Orange County Community College District Board President Carolyn Inmon, and a majority of donors located outside of Irvine with no apparent ties to the City.
John Park’s Notable Donors: California State Senator Steven Choi, Irvine City Councilmember James Mai, Irvine Council Candidate (District 5) Steven Alves, Irvine resident Bill Sandlin, Supervisor Don Wagner’s Outreach Director Saga Conroy, Republican Congressional Candidate Christopher Gonzalez, Republican Congressional Candidate David Pan, Tustin Mayor Austin Lumbard.
Read article on Bill Sandlin: [Editorial] Who is Behind Past Lawsuits Filed Against Irvine Candidates?
Betty Martinez-Franco’s Notable Donors: Planned Parenthood, Edison International Civic Action Committee, the Democratic Party of Orange County, Nat’l Assoc. Industrial & Office Properties NAIOP SOCAL PAC, UFCW LOCAL 324 PAC and Sierra Club PAC.
Anthony Kuo’s Notable Donors: Lobbyist Patrick Strader, Dana Strader, former Irvine Planning Commissioner Parrisa Yazdani, former Irvine Planning Commissioner Michelle Johnson, Irvine Councilmember Mike Carroll, Former Irvine Finance Commissioner Logan Jeffs.
Read articles on Patrick Strader:
- [Opinion] Hasty, One-sided Live Nation Deal Costing irvine $110 Million Hinges on Vice Mayor Kim
- [Opinion] FivePoint Lobbyist Patrick Strader Serving on the Irvine Community Land Trust is Like a Fox Guarding a Hen House
- Lobbyist Patrick Strader Involved with Live Nation and USA Waterpolo Negotiations at Great Park
- Corruption at City Hall
Read article on Parrisa Yazdani:
Read articles on Mike Carroll:
- [Opinion] Councilmember Carroll’s Troubling Attendance Record Is Getting Worse
- Mike Carroll Wants to Take Away Our Power to Elect the Mayor and Extend Term Limits
- [Opinion] Councilmember Mike Carroll Nets Over $180,000 in Taxpayer Funded COVID Loans for his Law Office
- The Story of Misappropriated Tax Dollars by Councilmember Mike Carroll
- Councilmembers Tammy Kim and Mike Carroll Seek to Rescind Irvine’s Sunshine Ordinance
- Budget Adjustment as Partial Payment of Vice Mayor Mike Carroll’s Campaign Mailer Debt
- Process Violations Threaten to Derail Mike Carroll Budget Coverup
- Deceptive Candidate Mailers
- Voice of OC — Irvine Stalls Investigations Into Councilman Carroll Mailer Spending Despite Clear Violations of City Policies
Read about Eight Horses: James Mai Eight Horses Contract
Byron Salvatierra’s Notable Donors: Irvine Teachers Association former president Therese Sorey, and multiple employees and IT professionals of Blizzard Games.
[Campaign suspended and will not appear on the ballot] Christine Knowland’s Notable Donors: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee Member Wendy Bakota, Irvine resident Karen Jaffe, Irvine Community & Library Services Commissioner Shareen Young.
Kathleen Treseder’s Notable Donors: Planned Parenthood of Orange County, Professional Firefighters Association of Orange County, Irvine resident Karen Jaffe, Michaela Gonzalez-Montaner, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee Member Wendy Bokota.
Scotty Hong’s Notable Donors: Lobbyist Patrick Strader, Dana Strader, Irvine Community Activist Sarah Rhee, Laguna Woods resident Vicki Johnson, former Irvine Planning Commissioner Michelle Johnson.
Read articles on Patrick Strader:
- [Opinion] Hasty, One-sided Live Nation Deal Costing irvine $110 Million Hinges on Vice Mayor Kim
- FivePoint Lobbyist Patrick Strader Serving on the Irvine Community Land Trust is Like a Fox Guarding a Hen House [Opinion]
- Lobbyist Patrick Strader Involved with Live Nation and USA Waterpolo Negotiations at Great Park
- Corruption at City Hall
8 Comments
Branda Lin
October 2, 2026 at 7:47 am“Follow the money” is still the most reliable rule in politics. Who a candidate accepts funds from reveals exactly who will have their ear before they even take office. Appreciate the linked articles that provide background on key donors—it’s extremely helpful. When a lobbyist like Patrick Strader, whose livelihood depends on securing land-use entitlements in Irvine and gets paid for entitlements that are approved by the City Council, is backing a candidate, that’s an undeniable red flag for voters.
Alan
October 2, 2026 at 9:02 amThere is much more to it than just follow the money especially when dealing with a incumbent. I look at past behavior and what have they accomplished or not accomplished. I also look at how divisive they have been and how willing or not willing they are to work with their peers. If you can’t work with your peers in a 6 district City then you are not going to get anything accomplished.
Dan Chmielewski
October 2, 2026 at 9:02 amYou still have to be able to count to 4 to be able to get things passed through the city. There are plenty of city staff whose livelihoods are dependent on their candidate getting re-elected and commissioners who “speak for themselves” at council meetings to reflect the positions of those who appointed them. Shouldn’t that be a red flag for voters too?
Branda Lin
October 3, 2026 at 8:41 amBirds of a feather… helpful to see the background of individuals who flock together.
Alan
October 5, 2026 at 2:57 pmBranda – Pretty funny thing for you to say taking into account your DGI membership. ” Birds of a feather” LOL!!
Branda Lin
October 5, 2026 at 4:08 pmJoining a community organization like DGI or any other organization that aligns with your beliefs, to foster meaningful change is a civic good we should all encourage. However, operating through obscure and unscrupulous means — such as flooding Irvine elections with millions in PAC and IE funds, running spoiler candidates, and publishing propaganda papers — is entirely different, and it undermines our local democracy. It has become all too clear who the players are who use such tactics and those who do not. There’s a clear track record.
Alan
October 6, 2026 at 3:44 pmSays you. I stopped going to DGI meetings because if I had a different opinion on anything I was shut out. The few times I spoke I had people yelling stuff at me because they didn’t like what I was saying. Been a Dem my whole life and I just do not like what has happened to my party and that does not mean I am a trump supporter, just to be clear and before I am categorized.
Dee Fox
October 4, 2026 at 3:32 pmI think Alan said it best … look at past behavior and accomplishments. So far what I have seen is money, OUR money, DONATED to “non-profits” of the council members choosing. Agenda items that have nothing to do with OUR CITY issues. We need to get rid of the people who are being directed by other people and NOT their constituents. Council members need to put race, religion and politics aside and vote for the needs of OUR residents … ALL OUR RESIDENTS!