It is a head-to-head race to represent Irvine’s newly drawn District 4.
District Four includes the communities of Turtle Rock, Turtle Ridge, Quail Hill, Los Olivos, the Spectrum, Shady Canyon and more. Geographically, it is the largest of Irvine’s five new districts and also the one with the most open space.
The race pits sitting councilmember Mike Carroll against Ayn Craciun, a city sustainability commissioner. In recent years, Carroll has been one of the council’s more conservative voices whereas Craciun is endorsed by more progressive politicians.
Carroll was appointed to the council in 2019 and then elected in 2020.
As councilmember, he’s fought against state recommendations for Irvine to zone for more than 50,000 new residential units, while joining his colleagues in supporting a long-term plan for Irvine to zone for about 23,000 new residential units by concentrating new developments in three areas — near the Irvine Business Complex, the Spectrum and the Great Park — while preserving the lower-density feel of other Irvine villages.
Mike Carroll, Irvine City Council candidate. (Courtesy of Mike Carroll)
“Affordability is a major issue in our state, and Irvine can and will do more,” Carroll said in a response to the newspaper’s voter guide questions. “But — and this is important — not at the sacrifice and destruction of our master plan. We need to see the other cities in Orange County do their fair share because Irvine does more than its fair share.”
Carroll said Irvine must do more to improve traffic as the city continues to plan for new residential units. “We must address the growing traffic problem in our city before it’s too late,” he said. “Traffic is an issue that threatens the quality of life that we all came here to enjoy.”
Craciun, a policy director for Climate Action Campaign, a coalition of environmental advocacy groups, says she envisions Irvine tackling traffic by making the city more walkable and bikeable.
“We’ll prioritize access to open spaces and ensure neighborhoods offer daily necessities nearby, reducing traffic and fostering community,” she said.
“Irvine’s growing workforce demands improved transit options like trains and shuttles, along with workforce housing to shorten commutes and take cars off the road,” Craciun added in her response to the voter guide. “We must also address the housing shortage, making homes affordable for families, teachers, nurses, firefighters and young people.”
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Carroll said sustainability is “extremely high” on his list of priorities, as well. He touted his record on the council supporting Irvine’s decision to purchase the All-American Asphalt Plant and turn what residents in North Irvine once complained was a nuisance into what the city plans to be an open space preserve accompanying new housing and retail.
“I am 100% for our environment and meeting state goals,” Carroll said to the voter guide question about meeting carbon emission goals. “But I am absolutely opposed to mandating increased electric rates for residents, elimination of parking for cars and individual car driving limits for Irvine residents that some have actually proposed.”
Craciun has a different attitude toward cars.
Ayn Craciun, Irvine City Council candidate. (Courtesy of Ayn Craciun)
“The housing crisis is largely driven by car-centric policies,” she said. “I will promote transit-oriented development in the Irvine Spectrum and Irvine Business Complex with mixed-use designs, placing most amenities within a 15-minute walk or bike ride. This will help provide more workforce housing while minimizing traffic impacts for current residents. Additionally, I will expand transit routes to and from UC Irvine and Irvine Valley College to better support students in achieving their educational goals.”
Craciun also said she would advocate for Irvine to build more EV charging stations and create programs to help residents replace inefficient appliances.
Both candidates also say public safety is a top priority.
Carroll says he will focus on stopping property crime.
“We must not reduce funding or defund our Irvine Police Department,” he said. “We need to support our men and women in blue who are on the frontlines keeping us safe.”
Craciun said she will advocate for a “common sense” approach to support police, fire and first responders. She was clear on her intention to improve traffic safety by having Irvine add protected bike lanes and study traffic patterns around schools.
Read more of the candidates’ responses to the newspaper’s voter guide, which asked about meeting housing needs, future planning, climate change and leadership. Check out what they said at ocregister.com/voter-guide. The guide includes all the races on the ballots.
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