Interview of Irvine's 2024 District 2 Election Candidates

By Alex Lingerfelt and Julian Kim

August 25th

This coming November, Irvine will experience its first-ever district-style election. Irvine has traditionally held at-large elections where voters could elect candidates for however many positions or seats were available. The transition to a district-style election sees voters electing a single representative from their district to represent them on Irvine’s city council. As an organization run by and for the students of Portola High School, the Discipulus reached out to the candidates of (our district) district two. Our mission is to inform students about the experience, policies, and goals of the candidates running. This article provides valuable insight for our community and is especially beneficial to students who will be voting in their first-ever election this coming November.

Candidates were sent emails explaining The Discipulus as an organization and its purpose.

Candidates who replied (so far): Gang Chen, Jeff Starke, Parissa Yazdani

(note: William Go was sent a follow-up email of the questions, to which he said he’d send a follow-up on August 24th. No follow-up email has been sent yet, but when it sends, the Discipulus will update this article to include his responses. Furthermore, a candidate named Mohamed Kothermydeen is also running for Irvine District 2, but we could not find any information on how to contact him. If we find his contact and he replies to the interview questions, we will update this article.)

District 2 questions and answers:

Question 1: Why do you want to run to represent Irvine’s District 2?

Chen: I received scholarships from USC and graduated in 1993 with a Master’s degree. I have lived in Irvine since 1997, a long time Irvine resident, and I have lived in District 2 for 9 years. I have spoken at many city council meetings to defend our community’s interests, and as a result, many people in the area already know me. Irvine gave me and my family great opportunities, and I want to give back to my community. This is why I am running. I am a licensed architect, a LEED AP BD+C, and a real estate broker (DRE#01232392), and served on the City of Irvine’s Green Ribbon Environmental Committee.

Starke: Our district has been underrepresented in the past. We have issues that

need to be addressed such as the 500 waste transfer trucks on Sand

canyon each day and the many unfinished projects in the Great Park,

especially the Great Park retail.

Yazdani: As the only candidate in district 2 who has ever actually spoken up for our community in a public forum, I am running to ensure that our [community's] voice continues to be heard, and to protect our community from outside influences.

Question 2: What do you feel are the biggest issues affecting District 2 and what plans do you have to combat these issues?

Chen:  Irvine is a great city, but there is definitely room for improvement. The quality of life has declined in the past few years, mainly due to recent safety issues, traffic problems, and rising housing prices. I would be honored to have your vote. I am running to make our city better. My campaign platform is based on one vision with three focuses. My vision is for Irvine to become a true first-class city while maintaining its unique features. My focuses are safety, traffic, and managed growth.

Starke: Our biggest issues are completing the retail and other amenities type

projects in the great park. We need to find a way to address the

additional traffic that these attractions will bring. Part of this is making

the streets safer for bike riders which will encourage more people to

attend events without their cars.

Yazdani: Public Safety is one of our biggest issues. I plan to work closely with our law enforcement agencies to ensure that our community LEOs are supported and their requests are heard. Our partnership with IPD is crucial to ensuring a safe community. The next is that our youth have very little options when it comes teen hang outs etc. It is my goal to ensure that the Great Park Framework, which I, as the chair of the former Great Park Task Force helped advise on, gets built with no delays from outside influences.

Question 3: How will you make sure the voices of District 2 are represented in Irvine’s City Council (ex: if all the council people are pushing for something residents in District 2 disapprove of)

Chen: As a District 2 council member, I will keep the community informed, particularly on issues that could impact District 2. I will also firmly oppose any proposals that might have a negative effect on our district.

Starke: I am good [with] building relationships and laying out a position. I will need to

build coalitions of different councilmembers depending on the issue at

hand. The fact that District 2 is becoming the center of Irvine makes the

case that what is good for us is also good for the rest or Irvine.

Yazdani: As the only candidate who has ever spoken at a council meeting, if elected, I will ensure that my vote is always with the people of District 2. I will never vote for something that district 2 disapproves of, and I will work hard with my fellow council members to ensure they understand and support our districts voice.

Question 4: How will you get the opinions of those in your district? (ex: online polling, speaking to others at events, email)

Chen: Yes, I plan to use all of the methods you mentioned—online polling, speaking with residents at events, and email. Additionally, my office has an open-door policy, so people are welcome to email or call my office directly.

Starke: I am regularly walking in our district; talking to residents about their

concerns. I am holding town halls to share what I know and hear from

residents. I will continue to hold town halls and send informational

newsletters once in office. I will be accessible to my neighbors so they

know they always have someone to turn to at city hall when they have

an issue.

Yazdani: As the only candidate actually involved in the community outreach for our district, I plan to continue using my resources, with the added council resources, to ensure that our district always has the opportunity to participate in decisions or ideas for our district. This will be by way of social media, and old school methods. But I do enjoy a good online survey/poll :]

Question 5: What are your opinions on constructing a Veterans Cemetery in District 2?

Chen:  I am opposed to constructing a Veterans Cemetery in District 2 because I believe it is not the right location.

Starke: I feel this is settled. The new veterans cemetery will be built in Gypsum

Canyon. The majority of veterans and elected Orange County politicians

also support Gypsum Canyon.

Yazdani: Again, as the only candidate who has been involved in the community, I have fought against this plan since 2019…I am absolutely against constructing a veterans cemetery in district 2. The veterans do not want it here, nor do the residents directly impacted by such a plan. I will continue to fight side by side with our veterans and residents so the veterans can have the cemetery they truly deserve, in an area that they all support. 

Question 6: What is your opinion on the current Great Park construction plans?

Chen: I support the necessary retail center but oppose the proposal for more than 5,200 new housing units in our community. I am in favor of a smaller amphitheater rather than the massive Live Nation Amphitheater. Additionally, I support the inclusion of a library in the Great Park for our families, children, seniors, and the entire community.

Starke:  I support the current layout of the Great Park. I would like to get a long

range timeline of when projects are expected to start and finish. We

need dates so we can hold the city accountable to their promises.

Yazdani: As the chair of the former Great Park Task Force, I helped advise on this plan, and support it. I do not support additional residential approvals until we have the proper infrastructure and facilities to accommodate any additional new homes. I do however, wish [to] find more space to build more much needed retail for district 2. We also need to annex the current Great Park Neighborhood plans, so that the how can finally be turned over to the residents who have waited for almost a decade under developer control.

Question 7: What are some ideas for dealing with growing concerns over E-bikes in the district?

Chen: My approach is to collaborate with the Irvine police to educate the community and enforce existing regulations.

Starke: Many adults have a sincere concern for the safety of e-bike riders. I

believe we need to have a more robust education campaign for child e-bike riders.There also needs to be additional enforcement of the existing laws and regulations. Bikes that are not street legal should be impounded when found out in the community.

Yazdani: As the mother of a teen with an E-bike, I believe very much that most of the teens with e-bikes are good kids. The problem is that there are several bad apples in this district, and they have made it hard for law enforcement, residents, and well behaved bikers. Recently there was a post about our bosque trail bathroom being vandalized by ebikers.

We need to impose stricter laws/ordinances that empower our LEOs. We also need to impose registration for all e-bikes with something that identifies each bike. Parents should also have to sign liability when registering their minors e-bike.

Question 8: What prior accomplishments/experience do you have when it comes to representing others?

Chen: I ran for Mayor in 2016 and for City Council in 2018, during which I met thousands of Irvine voters by going door-to-door throughout our city. Although I was not successful, I gained valuable experience in voter engagement, door-to-door campaigning, and public debates.

I have also served on the City of Irvine’s Green Ribbon Environmental Committee.

For the past decade, I have been actively involved in grassroots campaigns opposing the leftist agenda that has influenced California. This includes fighting against SCA5, Proposition 47, race-based college admissions, rent control, and more.

Starke: I have 4 years of experience on the Cypress Village PTA board. The

board oversees fundraising and then implementing many programs

throughout the year. We represent parents with school administration.

Yazdani: -I spearheaded the protest against a 400 bed “tent city” that was proposed for the Great Park in 2018.

-I helped defend our neighborhood against the cemetery from 2019 until now, working closely with the veterans organizations.

-I helped create Neighborhood watch with a group of fellow residents back in 2021 after a string of robberies occurred in our community.

-I was part of the HOAs Resident Landscape advisory committee

-I created some of the largest neighborhood social media groups to keep residents informed on important political issues that may concern them.

Question 9: In your opinion, what makes a good community leader?

Chen: A good community leader embodies several key qualities: vision, integrity and accountability, empathy and compassion, collaboration and inclusivity, adaptability and resilience, and dedication and commitment. They also possess strong interpersonal, communication, and problem-solving skills. A good community leader is someone who inspires trust, motivates others, and works tirelessly to create a better, more inclusive, and thriving community.

Starke: A good community leader is able to listen to the different sides of an

issue and try to find a consensus on a solution. They need to be

accessible and accountable for their promises.

Yazdani: A good leader is someone who listens and does what is best for their people, not what’s best for themselves.

A good leader is someone who admits when they are wrong, and tries every day to do better.

A good leader is someone who always ensures their communities voice is always heard.

Question 10: How would you address growing concerns about safety in Irvine due to rising instances of crime in the area?

Chen: I will ensure that the police department has the necessary resources to hire and retain outstanding officers, keeping Irvine safe.

Starke: I think having IPD do community outreach could help. I do not think

Irvine residents are always as aware of their surroundings as they

should be. I think criminals know this about and Irvine and come here

because of it. I often see open front doors and open garage doors and

packages left out for multiple days. Additional patrols in areas of higher

crime can also help.

Yazdani: I would like [to] see how/if we can increase the police budget to include additional officers to the area.

Question 11: What experience do you have when it comes to representing District 2 in particular?

Chen:  I have lived in Irvine since 1997 and have been a resident of District 2 for the past 9 years. As a long-time resident, I have actively represented our community by speaking at numerous city council meetings to defend our interests, earning the recognition of many in the area. In my role as a real estate broker, I frequently travel throughout District 2, showing homes and becoming intimately familiar with the neighborhoods. I know that many homes in District 2 have small lots with minimal front and backyards. This is why I oppose the proposal for more than 5,200 new housing units in our community. Great Park residents already pay higher taxes to maintain the park and should not bear an unfair and disproportionate share of the state-mandated new housing units.

Starke: I represented and advocated for 1,100 children in the Cypress Village

Elementary PTA. I currently serve on the City of Irvine Finance

Commission. We look at proposed spending and recommend to city

council whether or not we think it is a good choice.

Yazdani: I have been one of the main “faces” of district 2 (great park in particular) since 2018. My resume when it comes to community outreach, far exceeds my opponents. Just google them vs me.

Question 12: How do you plan to support/aid Irvine’s sustainability (Environment, Transportation, et cetera)?

Chen:  I am a licensed architect and LEED AP BD+C, and I also work as a real estate broker (DRE#01232392). I have served on the City of Irvine’s Green Ribbon Environmental Committee and have published several books on LEED, green buildings, and sustainability. My experience as a LEED administrator, leading numerous projects to achieve or seek LEED certifications, has equipped me with valuable expertise.

I plan to use this knowledge to support Irvine’s sustainability efforts, including reducing traffic congestion, saving energy and water, and minimizing carbon footprints.

Starke: I believe our biggest challenge with sustainability is our mass transit.

We need to find a way to move more people without cars. We could get

a big chunk of car trips off the road if we have bussing for students. We

could incorporate into a city wide solution. This could be done by

expanding the Irvine Connect or have OCTA add additional routes and

times. It could also be a combination of the two.

Yazdani: As a community who is paving the way for others when it comes to environment and sustainability, I plan to continue ensuring that experts voices are heard anytime we are making decisions. It is important to me that we remain a leader that other cities look to for guidance.

Question 13: When have you come across a time when you needed to hold onto hope to overcome adversity?

Chen: There was a time during a particularly challenging design project when I faced significant setbacks, including an unexpected budget reduction. This tested my resolve and optimism.

During this period, I held onto hope by focusing on the long-term goals and seeking advice from others, which provided new perspectives and solutions. By staying hopeful and persistent, I was ultimately able to complete the project successfully. This experience reinforced the importance of resilience and the power of maintaining hope in overcoming adversity.

Starke: In a past life I owned a small business. It was food related so the

fluctuating cost of goods and retaining quality works was a constant

challenge. I needed to hope that when issue arose, I would be able to

find a path through them to success. I was able to sell the business in

2015 after I moved to Irvine.

Yazdani: This week I had a very dirty “hit piece” taken out on me..it was slimy and manipulated to make me look like a criminal. 

It was one of the worst days of my life. I am fairly private, and what happened was a breach of the utmost privacy. It was a slander piece, meant to humiliate and scare me.

But I held on to hope that my neighbors and community knew me better than this article, and eventually, i started to see how supported I was, and how this attack had actually backfired on those who tried to crush me.

Conclusion: There was also a note attached to the back of the email discussing the feasibility of a candidate debate. One of the candidates recommended that a candidate forum would be more appropriate–to which we agree. All candidates indicated they were open for the event, and two candidates indicated that having the event be hosted at Portola High School (to get engagement from the seniors at Portola who’ll be voting for the first time this year).

Citations:

Chicago: Lingerfelt, Alex J., and Julian Kim. 2024. “Interview of Irvine's 2024 District 2 Election Candidates.” The Discipulus. https://feltgrad.wixsite.com/the-frumentarius/post/interview-of-irvine-s-2024-district-2-election-candidates.

MLA: Lingerfelt, Alex J., and Julian Kim. “Interview of Irvine's 2024 District 2 Election Candidates.” The Discipulus, 25th August 2024, https://feltgrad.wixsite.com/the-frumentarius/post/interview-of-irvine-s-2024-district-2-election-candidates.

APA: Lingerfelt, A. J., & Kim, J. (2024, August 25th). Interview of Irvine's 2024 District 2 Election Candidates. The Discipulus. https://feltgrad.wixsite.com/the-frumentarius/post/interview-of-irvine-s-2024-district-2-election-candidates