On Tuesday, December 13, the newest member of the Irvine City Council, Dr. Kathleen Treseder of UC Irvine, Irvine Mayor Farrah Khan, and veteran Irvine politician Larry Agran were sworn into their positions. On the municipal council, four-year mandates for Treseder and Agran will begin.
Khan, who won a second, two-year term as mayor in the 2022 election, thanked her family and the electorate for their support and encouragement during a ceremonial swearing-in ceremony to confirm the results. To continue bringing innovation to Irvine, Khan said she is looking forward to working with council members Tammy Kim, Mike Carroll, and Agran in addition to Treseder.
It is an honor for Khan to serve as the council’s president. “The Local Council has the chance to promote major city issues and innovate in new and interesting ways,” Khan added. As we start this term, we have the chance to realign our objectives and work together to accomplish everything we can.
Agran, whose involvement in Irvine politics dates back to the 1970s, said in his speech to the public that he continues to feel humbled and privileged to be able to serve the public. According to Agran, the evacuation of the All American Asphalt factory from Irvine and finding space for a veteran’s park and monument within the Great Park remain his top priorities in terms of problems.
Irvine’s growth, progress, and what it has become throughout the years have been his privilege and a great honor, he added. “I truly love this city and its people, and I believe in what we can accomplish moving ahead.”
Agran acknowledged that the previous council had its problems. While Agran did not go into detail, one of the difficulties he faced related to his capacity to add topics to the council agenda following a contentious agenda-setting rule that Khan had reintroduced.
The agenda-setting rule, most often referred to as the Rule of Two, required two council members to approve each item before it could be placed on the agenda.
Agran was the lone council member to cast a no vote on the proposal to reintroduce the Rule of Two in 2020.
Even though the council finally decided to repeal the regulation in July, several of Agran’s proposals for internal discussion did not have the support of other council members.
Agran did, however, add that there is a chance for a fresh start with every new council. Every time a new council is elected, there is a chance for a fresh start and a new beginning, he added. In this instance, we have a new council that has seen some changes. The chemistry will undoubtedly be different and, perhaps, better.
Treseder, a rookie to Irvine politics, expressed her gratitude for the chance. Treseder congratulated the municipal workers and her predecessor, former council member Anthony Kuo, in her speech to the general public.
The Democratic Party of Orange County, many council members from Orange County, and U.S. Representative Katie Porter all supported Treseder’s candidacy, which focused on environmental and climate change problems. She expressed hope for the voters as she began her four-year tenure and committed to assisting the city’s most disadvantaged citizens.
“Voting is an act of confidence in our democracy and our government, just as your being here and giving witness to this process is an act of faith. Voting requires confidence that your ballot will be tallied and your voice will be heard, the speaker added. “If done well, I think the government is about taking care of people — making sure people have houses they can afford, jobs they can afford, and playgrounds for their kids that are safe and clean.”
According to the election results, Agran won the council position with 31,023, or 23.86% of the vote. Treseder received 29,440 votes or a little over 22% of the total.
According to the Orange County Registrar of Voters, Khan earned 29,628 votes or 37.82% of the vote.
