Candidate Close Up 2024: Mike Carroll
Mike Carroll is running for re-election in District 4 for Irvine City Council. Photo credit Mike Carroll
Mike Carroll has the distinction of being the only incumbent running for re-election to the Irvine City Council, vying to represent District 4. As both a candidate for and current member of the City Council, he has a clear vision for where he would focus his efforts during his next term.
"Without a doubt, the top three issues would be overdevelopment in a community that's basically built out, keeping Irvine as America's safest city (we've been the safest city in America for 18 years), and public safety, including property crime and e-bike regulation. Property crime involves doorstep deliveries, car theft, and everything in between," Carroll explained during a recent Zoom. "The third priority would be overall quality of life.”
When asked why he wants another term on the City Council, Carroll pointed to his experience.
"It's been a real honor to serve the city of Irvine for the last just about six years,” said Carroll. “Irvine is at an incredible crossroads as we move forward to be, essentially, the premier city of Orange County, California. I have the ability to be one of the leaders of the community to help take Irvine to the next level."
Carroll said his professional background as a corporate transactional attorney uniquely qualifies him for the role of City Councilmember. When negotiating with massive developers and billion-dollar organizations, he draws upon his legal experience. If re-elected, he said he would use his expertise to ensure Irvine preserves its quality of life. In order to do that, Carroll said the city must return to its most fundamental ethos: the master plan.
“Irvine is a place we've all elected to be, and a lot of that is due to the Irvine master plan,” explained Carroll. “Quality of life to me is about defending and protecting that master plan at all costs."
Carroll identified certain neighborhoods in District 4, such as Quail Hill, Los Olivos, and Laguna Altura, as having deviated from the original vision of Irvine. The “promise of neighborhood schools,” as Carroll described it, has been broken for families residing in these areas. Instead of having schools within walking distance, students from these neighborhoods must drive on the 405 or take a long route of circuitous side streets to get to their assigned schools. Carroll fought a battle on the City Council that he ultimately lost in trying to provide these communities with a nearby school site.
“Kids in these areas have to go far out of their way to attend school,” said Carroll, “and that's something I feel strongly about addressing. In the case of Quail Hill, I’m proud that I recently obtained funding for an second school bus that serves over 50 Quail Hill families so their kids can get to University High School safely and on time.”
Another issue Carroll said he wants to tackle is traffic congestion. Although impacted roads feel like a way of life in District 4, Carroll said he has plans to address it if re-elected.
"The first thing that impacts South Irvine is traffic,” said Carroll. “We have a lot of flow-over traffic from Newport Beach, the 73 tollroad, and the 405. We need to focus on traffic circulation. It's one thing to say we've done the analysis and improved left-turn pockets, but the people using our roads have to feel they're moving through efficiently, especially after school."
Another item on Carroll’s agenda is protecting and expanding open spaces in South Irvine for all residents to enjoy.
"I'm leading the City Council in the development of new trails in the southern open space, which has been a bit of a challenge because of concerns from environmentalists in Laguna Beach,” Carroll said. “But if we don't cut trails, people walk indiscriminately through the land, damaging the environment even more."
Carroll is confident he can address all of these issues in another four-year term on the City Council. He was eager to share accomplishments from his current term on City Council to show how Irvinites have benefitted from his leadership.
"I obtained over $10 million from UCI for neighborhood traffic improvements in District 4, and they pay us $600,000 a year for traffic signals,” said Carroll. “I’ve held over 65 community forums. I also set up an unclaimed property initiative, which helps residents reclaim money from abandoned bank accounts or utility deposits. So far, people in Irvine have reclaimed a couple hundred thousand dollars through that program."
When not addressing the city’s many challenges, Carroll indulges in an unusual pastime.
"I'm an incredible air guitar player,” said Carroll, who performed on the national stage in 2003 to "Good Times, Bad Times" by Led Zeppelin. “I played it at the U.S. air guitar competition in New York City. It was a lot of fun.”
While Carroll hopes that his winning streak extends to the November election, he said he is undaunted by the contest. He exudes the confidence of someone who has already held the job, knows how to navigate its challenges, and is prepared for whatever happens next.
“You have to want to do it,” said Carroll. “I'm very comfortable where I am, and if I win, I win. I hope to continue to aid and benefit the city for four more years. If I don't, I'll keep moving. It has been an a true honor to have the chance to serve.”
Irvinite Questions
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Irvinite Questions 〰️
Read Carroll’s answers to some questions posted by members of the Irvine subreddit.
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I have been pushing and will continue to push for a taxation on foreign residents who own our homes, similar to what Vancouver, Canada, has done. I've talked about this with my colleagues on the City Council in closed session and in open session.
My dear friend, who moved from Irvine—I won't name him—moved because all of his neighbors in University Park, it was the development that used to be the old Vista Verde school, the Lyon homes development, none of his neighbors lived there. He was the only person on it. I think there was one other person on his street. He left Irvine with his family because of that reason.
He told me, "Hey, take a look at what they're doing in Vancouver. You've gotta do something about this." Vancouver has dealt with this effectively because they have a similar issue to Irvine in that regard. I would really like to push forward a non-occupancy tax for foreign buyers of Irvine homes. I really appreciate that question; it’s one of the things I’d like to really tackle if re-elected.
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My position on the Orange County facility maintenance facility—it’s a complete joke. They call it the Jiffy Lube for trains. It’s not appropriate for Irvine. It’s larger than the rail yard facility in Oceanside that everyone sees when you exit Camp Pendleton. It’s going to be like 26 tracks horizontally, with locomotives right across from a 55+ community.
I am 1000% against the massive rail yard being built in our community. I will do everything in my power to fight and make sure it doesn’t get built.
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