Update: Betty Martinez-Franco’ lead increased last night, and Anthony Kuo conceded around 10:40 pm. according to sources. She makes history as Irvine’s first Latina on the city council and will face election in 2026. The council split has five Democrats and two Republicans. Let’s hope the Democrats can work together better than last year’s council.
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As of this morning, Betty Martinez-Franco is poised to be Irvine’s First Latina City Council member. She has 3,031 votes to Republican Anthony Kuo’s 2,742. HOA board member Dana Cornelius has a little more than 10% with 670.
Credit here goes to the Democratic Clubs in Irvine for knocking on doors in what’s typically a low-turnout special election. Kuo got lots of dough in IEs but one mailer likened him to President Trump and Elon Musk as someone who would find waste and fraud in Irvine’s budget; given how badly DOGE is going over right now and Irvine being more Blue than Purple, it’s the wrong message.
Next vote count hits www.ocvote.com at 5PM tonight. As many of Betty’s positions align with Mayor Larry Argan, let’s see how this Democratic majority on the city council plays out.
Correction to this statement, “ Credit here goes to the Democratic Clubs in Irvine for knocking on doors…”
There was only one club, DGI, that helped Betty’s campaign and canvassed. The smaller club, IDC, didn’t do anything and, in fact, did not even want to endorse her.
Actually Jeremy, members of that club did walk for her. So, I’ll give them credit for that.
Jeremy Ficarola…Funny, I remember the DGI Club backed Tammy Kim and wouldn’t give Betty the time of day. Tammy Kim and Kathleen Treseder were very mean to her, and tried to tie her to the whole Anaheim debacle, which was absurd! But then, Tammy Kim and Kathleen Treseder never do play fair. The DGI club backed Tammy Kim, who backed out of running because she was found to have committed voter fraud and perjury! Perhaps Kev and the DGI club should do a little more investigating before they willie-nillie back someone. And NOW Kathleen Treseder wants to kiss up to Betty….a little late Kathleen, but then your hypocrisy knows no bounds!
Jeremy, they were too busy damaging the Teslas of innocent people, protesting on behalf of Palestinian terrorists that use their people as human shields and take hostages, reassuring men that like to pretend that they are women that they are in fact women, working hard to make sure women can still snuff the life out of the child they conceived because they were too stupid to realize they were ovulating, and screaming about deporting murdetous gang members back to El Salvador where they illegally emigrated from under the criminal Biden Administration to be bothered with any of that mundane canvassing stuff. Not that it matters. She won’t be elected because the electorate had finally had enough of the absurd DEM ideology. Go AOC! GO Bernie!
Kuo needs to win 76% of he outstanding vote; late breaking valid ballots swing blue.
The commentary on the OJ&VODKA Blog (herein the OJVB) defending immigrant bashing against Betty is alive and well.
Classic Vern, admitting that “EVERYONE” bashed him and called Jose Diaz a “RETARD” but he changed his foolish story. AGAIN.
Who other than the completely unintelligible Turkish lawyer dude even knows where Irvine is (although I am given to understand that Greg’s immigrant wife (who he brags about) MEDI-CAL appointments were in…….IRVINE.
Could you imagine the DREAM of moving from Anna Drive to the Deerfield Apartments would be like you or I moving to Beverly Hills……………LOSERS!
Ever notice how conservatives that post on here ramble on about stuff that most people couldn’t give a sh** about. They sound like real uneducated idiots. They really are useful idiots to their overlord king trump.
I stop reading them fully.
I notice how people in general love to bash their opponents, and never give any substance…example, they will say things like “uneducated idiots” but never state WHY they are uneducated idiots. Is it because DODG found…
* $1.5 million to “advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities”
* $70,000 for production of a “DEI musical” in Ireland
* $2.5 million for electric vehicles for Vietnam
* $47,000 for a “transgender opera” in Colombia
* $32,000 for a “transgender comic book” in Peru
* $2 million for sex changes and “LGBT activism” in Guatemala
* $6 million to fund tourism in Egypt
* Hundreds of thousands of dollars for a non-profit linked to designated terrorist organizations — even AFTER an inspector general launched an investigation
* Millions to EcoHealth Alliance — which was involved in research at the Wuhan lab
* “Hundreds of thousands of meals that went to al Qaeda-affiliated fighters in Syria”
* Funding to print “personalized” contraceptives birth control devices in developing countries
* Hundreds of millions of dollars to fund “irrigation canals, farming equipment, and even fertilizer used to support the unprecedented poppy cultivation and heroin production in Afghanistan,” benefiting the Taliban? Is this WHY the name calling with no substance? Is it the substance that can’t be revealed because it is them who are the blooming idiots? So, how about we stop with the name calling and talk about solutions, or at least, coming to a compromise on a given issue?
https://www.snopes.com/collections/doge-rumors-collection/
I will cry into a Tillamook ice cream carton and brace myself for the purposeful transformation of my quaint neighborhood into a 15 minute smart village. Good thing I got the E Trike because that will be the only way in or out of my subdivision. I will need to replenish my supply of Tillamook. Good Lord forbid if I need a hardware store item! On second thought, there will be no need for tools because I will live in a rat infested 5 story rabbit hutch and will have a maintenance man.
ps If we are celebrating that she is the first Latina councilwoman, why does she highlight her hair?
why does any woman color her hair? Because she can and what business is that of yours?
Sorry Anthony Kuo, in my hysterical tizzy fit I misspelled your name.
and Tammy Kim has weighed in on NextDoor with this comment (notice her profile stil shows a Woodbridge address):
Tammy Kim
Irvine Democrats
Stone Creek, Woodbridge·
10 hr ago
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Anthony Kuo’s humiliating defeat in Irvine’s District 5 special election isn’t just a loss—it’s a spectacular implosion and a clear condemnation of the disgraceful tactics he and his co-conspirators deployed to rig the outcome by getting me out of the race. Despite District 5 being shamelessly carved out specifically for him through Larry Agran’s brazen gerrymandering scheme, Kuo’s deeply flawed candidacy couldn’t even secure a victory against a virtual unknown, marking an embarrassing new low. His loss is especially humiliating given the unprecedented level of dirty political maneuvering and massive special-interest spending—over $400,000 dumped into a desperate attempt to prop up his floundering candidacy. Kuo’s defeat epitomizes the absolute rejection of dirty politics by Irvine voters. This result isn’t simply an electoral setback; it’s the final nail in the coffin of a career built on entitlement, political arrogance, and a reliance on playing dirty politics rather than genuine leadership or meaningful community connection. Anthony Kuo’s political career is finished—not because of circumstances or chance—but because voters finally saw through the charade. His inability to win even when the deck was stacked entirely in his favor underscores just how fundamentally flawed he is as a candidate. This isn’t merely a defeat; it’s a well-deserved public humiliation for a candidate who believed dirty tricks could compensate for a lack of character, authenticity, and integrity.
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a couple of things here:
1. Tammy opposed district elections and delayed it in 2022
2. Larry Agran didn’t gerrymander a thing; that was a council decision and a council vote
3. It’s cute when she brings up political arrogance; wonder if she voted for herself for Mayor in 2024 from the first Woodbridge room she rented where the homeowner says she didn’t live. Sources say Todd Spitzer already has all the documents needed for voter fraud charges
4. Community College Trustee Ryan Dack asked her if she voted in the special election, given she’s a Woodbridge resident. I laughed. Meaningful community connection? Maybe listen to public comments instead of Airpods
5. Writing a political obituary for an opponent isinteresting when she had every major endorsement and significantly outraised her opponent who won despite attacks on ageism; some people still cling to dreams of even higher office I guess. Spend more time on policy than Instagram.
And at the end of the day, you will come to the realization that absolutely none of this matters at all. Nothing will change. The election of another liberal Democrat will only result in the maintenance of the status quo while Irvine slowly gentrifies into just another Orange County shithole like Westminster with homeless encampments and unmaintained streets.. You will slowly become Garden Grove, with a GREAT PARK. The Potemkin city resulting from Donald Brens strong armed takeover of the acreage he coveted will degrade and turn into a high density OC version of Prora .. as the unwanted folks slowly move in and push out the elitist libs who sought to escape the Riff Raff . Have fun sorting your garbage. Make sure you do it correctly.. we wouldn’t want you to wind up in jail for failing to compost your banana.
TAMMY KIM STATES
“Anthony Kuo’s humiliating defeat in Irvine’s District 5 special election isn’t just a loss—it’s a spectacular implosion and a clear condemnation of the disgraceful tactics he and his co-conspirators deployed to rig the outcome by getting me out of the race.”
MY RESPONSE
Please, Tammy Kim, don’t flatter yourself! If you felt that way, then why did you back out? Could it be because you got caught in your desperation to get back on the council that you committed voter fraud AND perjury? And now, your file sits on Todd Spitzer’s desk. The audacity for you to speak out about this election is truly mind boggling….you should be focused on how to stay out of jail.
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TAMMY KIM STATES
“Despite District 5 being shamelessly carved out specifically for him through Larry Agran’s brazen gerrymandering scheme, Kuo’s deeply flawed candidacy couldn’t even secure a victory against a virtual unknown, marking an embarrassing new low.”
MY RESPONSE
Well Tammy, you and Kathleen Treseder never seek to shock me! Condemning the winner as if not deserving because she is an unknown, says little about how you view the voters and Betty’s efforts in campaigning. Clearly this is about YOU venting your hostility about the reason you perceive your head is on the chopping block.
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TAMMY KIM STATES
“His loss is especially humiliating given the unprecedented level of dirty political maneuvering and massive special-interest spending—over $400,000 dumped into a desperate attempt to prop up his floundering candidacy.”
MY RESPONSE
Now this is rich….Tammy Kim continues to gaslight, and is so blatant about it, makes you wonder has she completely lost it? She must think we all have a very short memory about the $300,000 she was able to secure from the OCFA. Tammy, are you serious? Why draw even more attention to yourself?
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TAMMY KIM STATES
“Kuo’s defeat epitomizes the absolute rejection of dirty politics by Irvine voters.”
MY RESPONSE
Well, yes, Tammy! If anyone has learned that lesson, it is YOU when you went up against grassroots, Mayor Larry Agran in your bid for Irvine Mayor! How many trees did you kill with all those massive flyers you sent out? You have some nerve to even bring it up! And you ran for Mayor as you committed voter fraud AND perjury! If I were you, I would keep my mouth shut and pray for forgiveness, and hope Spitzer doesn’t have you doing jail time for deceiving Irvine residents!
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TAMMY KIM STATES
“This result isn’t simply an electoral setback; it’s the final nail in the coffin of a career built on entitlement, political arrogance, and a reliance on playing dirty politics rather than genuine leadership or meaningful community connection.”
MY RESPONSE
WOW! If the term GASLIGHTING ever had true meaning, it is here! The definition in the dictionary for Tammy Kim would be to say … entitled, arrogant, no conscience, lacks moral judgement, issues regarding her race, habitual liar, fraud. And Tammy, who has ruined their political career? Certainly NOT Anthony Kuo because he lost an election. Perhaps you should look in the mirror!
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TAMMY KIM STATES
“Anthony Kuo’s political career is finished—not because of circumstances or chance—but because voters finally saw through the charade.”
MY RESPONSE
What charade, Tammy? You mean because he is transparent about his beliefs and you don’t agree, therefore you think his career is done? No, Tammy, a persons career is not done because of their beliefs, but it is done when they lie about where they live and commit voter fraud AND perjury! Are you really that stupid?
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TAMMY KIM STATES
“His inability to win even when the deck was stacked entirely in his favor underscores just how fundamentally flawed he is as a candidate.”
MY RESPONSE
No words for this statement because how much more can I say about someone who can’t accept responsibility for their own actions, that they have to continue to bully anyone they think was the cause of their legal issues!?
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TAMMY KIM STATES
“This isn’t merely a defeat; it’s a well-deserved public humiliation for a candidate who believed dirty tricks could compensate for a lack of character, authenticity, and integrity.”
MY RESPONSE
Okay, Tammy Kim! And the reason you lost your bid for Mayor was because … ?
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* I have to wonder who wrote this for Tammy Kim. Some of us are aware of her poor writing skills, and have questioned her even graduating from high school, let alone college…