Meet the 2026 Candidates for District 6

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

Irvine’s 6th District is holding its first election since the city switched from at-large to district elections for City Council representatives. There are two candidates for this race: current City Councilmember Kathleen Treseder and Scotty Hong.

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

Scotty Hong

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Photo credit Scotty Hong

• How long have you lived in Irvine and what originally brought you here?

  I’ve lived in Irvine during two periods over several years. I first moved here in my twenties, then left to pursue graduate studies. Afterward, I chose to return and make Irvine my home because this is where I wanted to live, work, and serve the community.

• What personal or professional experience shaped your decision to run for office?

  I’m a public policy professional educated at Harvard and Cornell, and I serve as an Irvine Sustainability Commissioner and Mayor Agran’s Chief Policy Advisor. Through that work and my experience as a District 6 resident, I see transportation, public safety, and infrastructure needs that require practical action.

• What is one thing about you that voters would not learn from your campaign website or ballot statement?

  What voters may not know is how personal public service is to me. As a first-generation immigrant, I came to America believing in the American dream. The opportunities I received shaped my life, and I feel a responsibility to give back, protect those same opportunities, and keep them open to the next generation.

• What do you consider the most important issue facing Irvine and what specific action would you take during your first year to address it?

  Traffic and limited transportation choices are District 6’s most urgent challenges. Our density and resident feedback demonstrate a strong need for better transit. During my first year, I would push for a District 6 pilot expanding the free Irvine CONNECT shuttle along the Jamboree corridor—linking apartments, UCI, and shopping and measure its results using ridership and traffic data.

• What is one recent Irvine City Council decision you would have handled differently and why?

  I would have strengthened the Council’s recent changes to meeting procedures. Substantive motions and supporting memoranda should be submitted to staff and posted publicly far enough in advance for meaningful review. Councilmembers and residents should not have to evaluate major proposals at the last minute. Earlier disclosure would improve decision-making, reduce surprises, and help meetings conclude at a reasonable hour so residents can participate without waiting late into the night.

• At the end of your term, what specific result should residents use to judge whether you succeeded?

  Residents should judge me by whether District 6 has expanded free Irvine CONNECT service, safer streets and crossings, police resources that keep pace with population growth, and visible infrastructure improvements—including completed sidewalk gaps, new trail connections, and measurable progress on Creekwalk. Success should be visible in residents’ daily lives, not simply described in reports or promises.

• What is your favorite Irvine place to visit or event to participate in?

  The UCI campus is my favorite place to visit. I enjoy walking around campus and stopping at the University Center. It reflects what I love about Irvine: education, diversity, and energy. I also enjoy Diamond Jamboree Plaza and look forward to visiting the new Irvine Fieldhouse on Red Hill Avenue when it opens.

Kathleen Treseder

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Photo credit Matt Fitt Photography

• How long have you lived in Irvine and what originally brought you here?

  I have lived in my neighborhood in Irvine for 23 years. University of California, Irvine hired me as a faculty member, and I was thrilled to move here.

• What personal or professional experience shaped your decision to run for office?

  As an educator early in the Trump administration, I saw worry on my students' faces. They told me they feared for their future, especially around climate change. As a climate researcher, I'd spent years watching the evidence mount: climate change is real, and it won't stop unless something changes in government. That's when I decided to run, not just for my students, but because it was time to move from research to action and implement sustainable policies, starting at the local level.

• What is one thing about you that voters would not learn from your campaign website or ballot statement?

  Not many people know I do jiu-jitsu and horseback riding. Jiu-jitsu keeps me disciplined and reminds me that real strength comes from showing up consistently and staying calm under pressure. Horseback riding keeps me grounded and connected to my love of animals; I have 1 dog and 2 senior cats. Outside of that, I'm a mom who wants my kids to live without constant worry, especially about the world they're inheriting.

• What do you consider the most important issue facing Irvine and what specific action would you take during your first year to address it?

  District 6's biggest challenge is that despite rapid development and housing growth, it remains one of the least integrated parts of the city, lacking the transit and sidewalk connections, civic representation, and amenities more established districts enjoy. It deserves representative leadership. In my first year, I'll complete the Pocket Parks and Greenspace Master Plan I initiated, push infrastructure planning that keeps pace with growth, and secure affordable housing for working families, young professionals, seniors, and veterans.

• What is one recent Irvine City Council decision you would have handled differently and why?

  I supported leaving OCPL; Irvine sent $17M a year to the county for about $5M in local service. But the financial picture we were given wasn't accurate: we later learned the city had only about 65% of the funds needed to cover the new library system, with no money identified to buy University Park or build a Great Park library. Had I known, I would not have voted to leave.

• At the end of your term, what specific result should residents use to judge whether you succeeded?

  At the end of my term, residents should judge my success by real, visible results: a completed Pocket Parks and Greenspace Master Plan, progress on the addition of a new local fire station, and growth in affordable housing units for working families, seniors, and veterans. Just as importantly, residents should feel confident that, as their representative, I've ensured they have the resources they need to not just get by, but to truly thrive.

• What is your favorite Irvine place to visit or event to participate in?

  CicloIrvine is my favorite event of the year, hosted by the City. I introduced the inaugural event to promote multi-modal transportation in Irvine: a day when residents can walk, bike, or skate without worrying about cars. CicloIrvine lets residents envision a future of safe, car-free trips and experience their community in a new way, stopping at businesses on foot they might otherwise have driven past.

Back to the 2026 Irvine Voter Guide