Meet the 2026 Candidates for District 5

Politics

Sep 25

The candidates answer the same questions about their backgrounds, priorities and plans for Irvine.

Irvine’s District 5 will be elected by residents of District 5. The five candidates running include District 5’s current representative, Betty Martinez Franco, who won her seat in a special election last year after Councilmember Larry Agran was elected to Mayor in the 2024 election.

Not sure which district you’re in? Find out here.

Steven Alves

I first moved to Irvine in 1990 after returning to California from Washington, D.C. Some friends who lived in the city needed another roommate, so I moved in with them, and I've called Irvine home ever since, settling in Woodbridge in 1995.
I bring a combination of experience to the table that I think is unique. My 30+ years in international business, building a global logistics network across more than 50 countries, taught me how to manage complexity, navigate risk, and get results in high-stakes environments. My time as Chief of Staff to Vice Mayor James Mai gave me direct, working knowledge of how Irvine's City Hall actually operates, how city budgets are built, and how decisions get made, experience I will bring to the Council on day one rather. Just as importantly, I've worked closely with current City department heads and management, and I've built a reputation at City Hall as a solid, reliable professional who works well with staff, a relationship that I will be able to draw on immediately as a Council Member.
Beyond the resume, my record speaks to who I am: over 14 years volunteering in the local Scouting program (including teaching the Citizenship in the Community merit badge), service on the board of the Irvine Community Alliance Fund, and helping attract new businesses to Irvine alongside Vice Mayor Mai.

As a resident District 5, I did not think I was being well represented at City Hall so I decided take my commitment to community service and my 30-plus years of business experience and run for office.
Photography has been a passion of mine for years, and I've used it to capture the beauty and vibrancy of Irvine, particularly in Woodbridge. I took the main images of Woodbridge that are on my campaign website.
The most important issue facing Irvine right now is the budget deficit, and its effects show up right here in District 5 in the condition of our roads, as anyone who has driven on Alton Parkway through Woodbridge is well aware. I would address the deficit through fiscal discipline, not new taxes: prioritizing core services and trimming lower-priority spending.
Road maintenance is part of that same discipline, not separate from it. In my first year, I would push for a transparent review of District 5's road conditions and insist that the City have the flexibility to divert from their standard maintenance schedule to fix the issues in D5 that have gone untouched for too long.
Irvine's finances and our roads aren't two separate problems. They're connected, and District 5 deserves real, responsive progress on both in my first year.
I would not have voted for Rank Choice Voting (RCV) to be put on the ballot in November. RCV replaces the simple principle of one person, one vote with a confusing multi-round process that most voters don't fully understand. It leads to meaningfully higher rates of ballots being thrown out mid-count (ballot exhaustion), and it may not produce an actual “majority” winner because of the ballots that get weeded out. Irvine elections should stay simple, transparent, and trustworthy. There is no need to try to “fix” what isn’t broken, especially at a high cost to the taxpayer at a time when the city faces a large budget deficit.
Residents should judge my success on a few simple, specific things.

Was I accessible, and did I listen to their concerns? I want to have been present in this district throughout my term and to have worked with city staff to help resolve the issues of the residents.

Did I keep my promise of fiscal discipline? By the end of my term, I want Irvine's budget deficit meaningfully reduced without resorting to new taxes, with measurable results behind that progress. Is the city in a better position than it was when I took office?

Did I work hard to bring new businesses to Irvine? I want residents to be able to point to specific employers or investment that came to the city during my term, building on the work I've already done alongside Vice Mayor Mai.

Were D5 roads and infrastructure well maintained? Residents should see real, visible improvement in the condition of our streets, not more deferred maintenance.
Those are the standards I'd want to be held to. If I fall short on any of them, that's a fair thing for residents to hold against me.
I really enjoy an early morning walk in the Great Park.

Julie Glossbrenner

I have lived in Irvine for approximately thirty years and have lived in Orange County my entire life. I originally chose Irvine because I attended UCI and wanted to live close to school. I chose Woodbridge because I loved being across the street from the lake. Over the years, Irvine has become much more than a place where I live. It is where I have raised my children, built my career, and developed a strong connection to the community.
My professional experience has taught me what it takes to be an effective City Councilmember: being prepared, ethical, willing to listen to different perspectives, and focused on finding the best path forward. I regularly attend Irvine City Council meetings and address the Mayor and current councilmembers about issues affecting our community. This has allowed me to hear directly from residents. I believe my experience, perspective, and willingness to truly listen will be an asset to Irvine.
I genuinely enjoy finding solutions to complicated issues. When something is important, I ask questions, listen to different perspectives, research the facts, and consider the consequences before forming an opinion. I do not believe my opinion is automatically the “right” opinion. I am committed to making decisions based on what I believe is best for the residents of Irvine, even when that may differ from what I personally prefer.
I believe responsible financial management is an extremely important issue facing Irvine. Residents deserve to understand how their tax dollars are being spent and whether the City is getting the results intended. In my first year, I will push for greater transparency around City and Great Park financial commitments and forecasting, including clear reporting on projected costs, ongoing obligations, and the actual results achieved at agreed-upon milestones. I understand that decisions made today affect Irvine’s future and I will always be mindful of that legacy.
I would have approached the City’s decision to take on operating Irvine’s libraries with greater emphasis on long-term financial sustainability and clear public reporting before committing to the change. Libraries are an important community resource, but residents should understand the full cost of providing these services, including ongoing operating and staffing obligations. I believe the City should always carefully evaluate costs, outcomes, and alternatives before committing significant long-term resources.
Residents should be able to look at the City’s finances and see greater transparency, stronger accountability, and measurable progress toward a balanced budget. But success should also be visible in residents’ daily lives. I want residents to look around their communities and see meaningful improvements in the places they live, work, and play. At the end of my term, I want residents to see that their City Council worked to make Irvine a better place to live and I was a major part of that.
One of my favorite places in Irvine is the two Woodbridge lakes. I also enjoy the parks and open spaces. I love nature and enjoy being outdoors, whether I am walking the trails, spending time at the lake or simply enjoying one of Irvine’s beautiful parks. I especially appreciate the places where residents can experience our community together. Irvine’s parks and open spaces are an important part of what makes our city special, and I hope they are always part of the decision making process.

Betty Martinez Franco

I came to Irvine in 2001 because I was looking for a safe place to rebuild my life. I had survived domestic violence and was living in a transitional shelter through Human Options. With their help, I was able to find an apartment here in Irvine for my daughters and me. Irvine became the place where we could finally feel safe, put down roots, and begin again.
I came to the United States undocumented, hoping for a better life. I worked in the apple fields, where I saw firsthand the injustices many immigrants and people of color faced: low wages, long hours, no benefits, very few protections, and the constant fear of immigration enforcement.
I also know what it is like to struggle financially. There were times when I had to decide whether to give my last few dollars to my daughters for a school field trip or use that money to buy Top Ramen so we could eat that day. Experiences like those change the way you see the world. They taught me to understand the struggles of families who are working hard and still barely making ends meet.
Years later, I went back to school and earned my bachelor’s degree in Communications from Cal State Fullerton. When COVID-19 hit, I watched families in our communities suffer and felt strongly that the government could and should do more during times of crisis. That was when I started seriously thinking about public service.
At first, I listened to all the reasons people said as to why someone like me could never win an election in the City of Irvine. But deep down, I knew my story, my voice, and my connection to this community mattered. Instead of letting that stop me, I decided to prepare myself. I enrolled at USC and earned my Master of Public Administration, along with a graduate certificate in City and County Management. I wanted to understand how the government works so that, if I was going to serve my community, I could serve it well.
I was a color guard mom! One of my daughters was in color guard at Woodbridge High School, and I volunteered with the band throughout all four years she was there. I helped with everything from Bingo nights in Rancho San Joaquin and ticket sales at football games to ironing flags and helping the girls get their hair ready before competitions.
Those are some of my favorite memories because they remind me that my connection to Irvine started long before I ever ran for office. I was a mom raising my daughters here, volunteering at their schools and doing what so many parents in our community do every day.
There are several issues that are important to me, including e-bike safety, where I have already worked with our Police Department to bring more education and resources into the community. But one issue we cannot ignore is food insecurity.
There are families, seniors, and students in our community who are struggling to afford groceries. We have resources available, but they do not help people if residents cannot get to them. Not everyone can drive across the city to pick up free groceries at the Great Park.
I want to continue bringing services closer to the neighborhoods where people actually live. I also want to explore ways to expand Irvine CONNECT so more residents can reach groceries, medical appointments, schools, jobs, and City services without needing a car. Transportation and access go hand in hand. My bike-share pilot at City Hall was one step toward creating more transportation options, and I want to continue looking for practical ways to help people get where they need to go.
I would not point to one particular decision and say I would simply go back and change it. Every decision we make in public office teaches us something.
I know there have been moments when I could have communicated better, asked another question, or approached an issue differently. Believe me, no one is a tougher critic of my work than I am. But I also believe leadership means being willing to learn.
I listen when residents disagree with me. I pay attention when someone raises a concern I may not have considered. I reflect on my decisions and ask myself how I can do better the next time. I strive for excellence, but I also know that being an effective public servant requires humility and a willingness to keep learning.
I want residents to judge me by whether people who historically felt ignored by City Hall finally felt that someone was listening to them and fighting for them.
Throughout my time on the City Council, I have tried to bring voices into the conversation that have not always had a seat at the table. That includes immigrants, working families, seniors, students, and residents who may be afraid to speak for themselves.
One example was my advocacy for Irvine to support the Vasquez Perdomo v. Noem case through an amicus brief. I knew taking a public position would bring criticism and attention, but I believed it was important to stand up for residents who were living in fear.
At the end of my term, I hope people can say that I was accessible, that I listened, and that I was never afraid to speak up when people in our community needed someone in their corner.
I love Irvine's open spaces. Whenever I get the chance, I enjoy exploring Limestone Canyon, and I often hike at Quail Hill and Bommer Canyon. There is something about being out there that gives me a sense of peace. I feel safe, I can clear my mind, and the views are incredible.
I also love our cultural celebrations at the Great Park. I have not had many opportunities to travel around the world, so being able to experience different cultures, food, music, and traditions right here in Irvine is very special to me.
Sometimes I look around this city and think about the young mother who arrived here in 2001 just looking for a safe place for her daughters. I feel incredibly lucky that I was able to raise my children here, and that Irvine became our home.

Anthony Kuo

I was the first (and to date, only) elected representative in Irvine to have been raised in Irvine! My family first moved to Irvine in 1978. I’d love to say I was born in Irvine, but we didn’t have a hospital in town yet, but I came “home” to Woodbridge straight from Hoag in Newport.
I’ve been a volunteer for as long as I can remember. Whether it was an effort strengthening Irvine’s exceptional schools, raising funds for day care scholarships, serving on City Commissions, teaching at church, or supporting youth booster organizations, I’ve always tried to be there for our community. Many people I call friends with whom I volunteered said, “you’ve got to run for City Council. Our city needs someone with your passion for our community!”
I try to be fairly transparent about where I am, what I’m doing, and what I believe in. I don’t know that there’s very much not out there in the web about me. One thing people may not know is how much I enjoy cooking for friends and family. I’m happiest with a crowded home, too much food on the table, and people lingering long after dinner.
I see fiscal stability as Irvine’s most immediate challenge because it affects our ability to provide every core service, including public safety. I’d start by calling for a public review of spending, new programs, reserves, pension obligations, and projected revenues. That review can identify where we can reduce costs, help strengthen our local economy, protect essential services, and ensure Irvine is financially positioned to maintain the quality of life we’ve all come to expect.
I would have voted differently when the City Council rescinded Irvine’s plan to withdraw from the Orange County Power Authority. I support expanding clean energy options, but OCPA has had governance and cost concerns, and current rate comparisons show Irvine residents pay more than comparable SCE customers. Irvine should pursue sustainability without locking residents or City Hall into a structure that does not provide clear value.
Residents should judge my success by whether Irvine is financially stronger, public safety remains a clear priority, and City Hall is more responsive to the people it serves. By the end of my term, I would expect to see a structurally balanced budget, healthy reserves, measurable progress on long term liabilities, strong policy staffing and response performance, and residents who can clearly see how their tax dollars are being spent.
’m a longtime volunteer with the Irvine Junior Games, an exceptionally well-organized track meet featuring roughly 1,400 fourth- through eighth-graders that gets our students out and moving. More importantly, it raises funds for before- and after-school child care scholarships at every IUSD elementary school. Whether I’m cheering on athletes, grilling hot dogs at the concession stand, or helping behind the scenes, it’s one of those days that reminds me what I love about Irvine.

Note:

Byron Salvatierra is also a candidate for District 5. He did not return requests to participate in this article.

Emily Ball