Candidate for
Council Member; City of Irvine

I was born in Buffalo, NY in 1958. My father was an anchorman on the local news. When she was growing up, if I wanted to see my father, I had to watch the news. My mom modeled values of advocacy, social justice and civic participation. Tagging along to meetings of the League of Women Voters, attending public hearings and canvassing for candidates, I learned about the impact political leadership and citizen activism can have on shaping both our local and national agenda.

I received a degree in Education of the Visually Impaired from the University of Texas at Austin. While teaching at the Texas School for the Blind in Austin, I met and married my husband, Solly. In 1985, we relocated to Irvine where we opened an optometry practice and raised our children.

In 2000, I began attending Irvine City Council meetings because of a local issue. Skeptical about the ability of city leaders to effectively fight a proposed airport that her community didn't want, I decided to run for City Council and was successfully elected in November 2000. I helped stop that airport and went on to win four more consecutive elections, including two terms as the directly elected Mayor of Irvine. As mayor, I advanced initiatives that support balanced planning, "smart growth" and environmental stewardship, and enhanced community partnerships with local educational institutions, businesses and non-profits.

During my tenure as mayor, Irvine was recognized as the "safest big city" in America all four years. During those same four years, budgets were balanced and city reserves were tripled, without laying off a single employee or raises taxes. Because term limits prevented me from seeking a third term as mayor, I ran and won a seat on the Irvine City Council in 2008.

In 2010 I ran a Congressional race which, while unsuccessful, was something I'm proud to have done.

I'm proud of my reputation as an effective and accessible leader by working collaboratively with business and labor, the education community, and public officials. I am running for re-election to the City Council to keep Irvine moving forward in a positive direction.