Irvine City Council
Meet the seven elected officials shaping the future of Irvine, California.
The City of Irvine is governed as a Council/Manager form of government. The City Council adopts legislation, sets policy, and establishes the city budget. Councilmembers serve four-year terms; the Mayor serves a two-year term, with a two-term limit for all elected officials.
Larry Agran
Larry Agran graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UC Berkeley in 1966 and with honors from Harvard Law School in 1969. He first served on the Irvine City Council from 1978 to 1990, including six years as Mayor, earning national recognition for pioneering programs in child care, affordable housing, recycling, and open space preservation. As founder of Project '99, he was especially active in establishing the Orange County Great Park at the former Marine Corps Base at El Toro. Elected Mayor again in 2024, this marks his eighth nonconsecutive term in the role. He also serves as City representative to the National League of Cities, the League of California Cities, and the California Big City Mayors Coalition.
Vice Mayor
James Mai
James Mai was elected as the inaugural Councilmember for District 3 and subsequently selected by his colleagues to serve as Vice Mayor — the first Vietnamese American to hold elected office in Irvine. With over two decades of business leadership as Managing Partner of Bristol & Bates, a management consulting firm, James has delivered transformative solutions to organizations worldwide. He holds a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from the University of Maine, an MBA, and a Master's degree in Communications. A proud Irvine resident for 26 years, he serves as Vice Chairman of the Orange County Power Authority and on the boards of the Great Park and the Irvine Barclay Theatre.
Councilmember
Melinda Liu
Melinda Liu is a long-time Northwood resident who made history as the first Taiwan-born Chinese-American woman fluent in Mandarin elected to the Irvine City Council. She holds a BA in Political Science from UC Berkeley and a Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law. A licensed attorney, Real Estate Broker, and certified Mediator, she has worked extensively with immigrant communities and small businesses throughout her career. She served as President of the Irvine Chinese School PTO and as a volunteer mediator at the Orange County Superior Court. She strives to foster business opportunities, protect quality of life, and focus on safety and education for children.
Councilmember
William Go
William Go was elected in 2024 as the first Councilmember for District 2 and the first Chinese Filipino American to serve on the Irvine City Council. In 2026, he made history again as the first Great Park Neighborhoods resident appointed Chairman of the Great Park Board while serving as a Councilmember. He earned a BS in Computer Engineering and an MBA from UC Irvine, and grew a real estate and hospitality portfolio from four locations to over 30 nationwide. An avid cyclist and triathlete who has completed a Full Ironman 140.6, William and his wife Jennifer have lived in Irvine for more than 20 years.
Councilmember
Mike Carroll
Mike Carroll is serving his second 4-year term on the Irvine City Council, having been re-elected in 2024 with the highest number of votes in the City's history. He is Vice Chairman of the Great Park and Chairman of the Irvine Hotel Improvement District, as well as a Board Member of the Orange County Transportation Authority, a $2.3 billion organization. A practicing corporate, M&A, and transactional attorney, Carroll is a bestselling author published by HarperCollins and has appeared on NBC Today, FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, and NPR. He was named to OC Metro's 40 Under 40 and is a recipient of the President's Volunteer Service Award.
Councilmember
Betty Martinez Franco
Betty Martinez Franco made history as the first Latina and first Mexican immigrant elected to the Irvine City Council. Originally from Mexico, she immigrated to the United States over 30 years ago, working in apple fields, hotel housekeeping, and childcare before pursuing higher education. She earned degrees from Orange Coast College, Cal State Fullerton, and a Master's in Public Administration from USC Price School of Public Policy. She is the founder and CEO of Prisma Communications, a multicultural public relations firm. She is focused on affordable housing, small business support, community engagement, and public safety.
Councilmember
Kathleen Treseder
Kathleen Treseder, PhD is the Howard A. Schneiderman Endowed Chair and Professor at UC Irvine, leading an internationally recognized research program on how climate change affects endangered ecosystems. She received her PhD from Stanford University and has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Academy of Microbiology, and the Ecological Society of America. She received the 2024 Robert H. MacArthur Award from the Ecological Society of America and the 2022 Marsh Award for Climate Change Research from the British Ecological Society. Since her 2022 election, she has spearheaded initiatives on sustainability, open government, and Great Park accountability.
Learn More About Irvine City Government
Visit the official City of Irvine website for council agendas, meeting schedules, commission appointments, and more.
City of Irvine Official Site