Progressive Challenger elected Mayor of Irvine (CA)
With Irvine set to turn 50 next year, Tuesday’s election may have ushered in the end of an era of city leadership: after serving as an elected official for nearly half the city’s existence, Mayor Christina Shea appears to have lost her bid for two more years in office to Councilwoman Farrah Khan.
At least two of the council’s four members will change once all the votes are counted and the election is finalized – but one of the new additions looks likely to be former mayor and councilman Larry Agran, who has spent even more years holding city offices than Shea.
As Agran interprets the outcome, he said Wednesday, residents have grown tired of “developer domination” of Irvine officials and delays in getting a promised veterans cemetery built.
“The results pretty clearly indicated that the people of the city of Irvine wanted a new mayor and new City Council.”
Thousands of ballots remain to be counted throughout the county, but unofficial results as of Wednesday, Nov. 4, showed Khan leading a field of four seeking the mayor’s seat; Shea came in second and – currently down by more than 10 percentage points – has conceded and extended her congratulations to Khan.
“The voters spoke and they did not choose me,” Shea said Wednesday. “I just wish the best for the city of Irvine.”
https://www.ocregister.com/2020/11/04/after-election-irvine-looks-poised-to-change-its-mayor-and-half-its-council/