Former Irvine Mayor and Council Member Sukhee Kang Eyes Return to City Coucil in 2026

This Facebook post popped up Saturday night:

I’m Sukhee Kang, and I’m running to continue providing steady, proven leadership focused on results, accountability, and Irvine’s future. I have called Irvine home since 1986. This is where I raised my family, built a life, and devoted years of service to our city—and where I continue to live today, right here in District 1.

As a two-term Mayor and two-term City Councilmember, I helped guide Irvine through growth while protecting what makes our community exceptional—safe neighborhoods, outstanding schools, and a high quality of life. I also took my leadership to the federal government, serving as a presidential appointee under President Joe Biden as Regional Administrator for the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), where I centered transparency, efficiency, and accountability in government through my work.

I am running for Irvine City Council because Irvine needs experienced leadership that listens to residents, delivers results, and puts the community first. Join our campaign for a stronger Irvine at sukheekang4irvine.com. 

Kang had a successful run as mayor and as a council member and is well-liked and was a sought after endorsement by candidates in and outside of Irvine.  He is challenging first-term council member Melinda Liu (who is my district council representative).  Liu is aligned with the a troika of coucil members who had strong ties with disgraced former Council member Tammy Kim.  Liu and William Go were commissioners under Kim (with Go offering his truck to help Kim move into an address in District 5 in early 2025, but no word if said same truck was used to move into an “ghost” apartment in November 2024 where Kim’s indictments lie).  Go even named Kim as his Finance Commissioner until news of the private investigation into Kim’s address came out and then he replaced her.

Liu hired Kim’s former chief of Staff, Evette Kim, who allegedly got into an altercation with an Irvine resident during one of Tammy Kim’s last council meetings (where some salty Korean swear words were said to have been used).  No matter how much Tammy Kim tried to supplant Kang’s reputation as Irvine’s top Korean-American, it never happened.  Kang never played victim.

And rounding out that trio is Dr. Kathleen Treseder, who is up for re-election, and never let the rumor mill stand between her and good policy associated with Agran.  Does anyone know if that FBI investigation in Irvine against former Mayor Farrah Khan is still ongoing?  Because the case with former political consultant Melahat Rafiei wasn’t it —  and if the feds did anything to investigate Khan, it was no more of a background check so she could greet Joe Biden on the tarmac at John Wayne Airport in 2022.  Maybe the good Doctor will finally tell us what investigation she was a witness for at some point since many have forgotten about it.

I currently have a PRA with the city, filed in January, asking for communications with all three council members and Tammy Kim regarding Kim’s move into District 5 and if there was any discussion or possible mental illness when it came to Kim.  The PRA also extends to Evette Kim’s communications.  The city has extended the deadline twice.  I’m supposed to get an update on March 31.  I won’t hold my breath.

Here’s Kang’s new campaign website:

www.sukheekang4irvine.com.

His social media feeds on Facebook and Instagram accounts are live now too.

I could go on about Kang’s accomplishments on the city council as I’m sure many in Irvine remember as a time of significant growth in the city.  But not that many are aware of what he’s been up to since leaving the city council.

Kang received a presidential appointment from President Joe Biden as Regional Administrator overseeing Pacific Rim, Northwest and Arctic regions spans from California, Nevada, Arizona,Hawaii, Idaho, Washington State, Oregon and Alaska for U.S. GSA.  Kang was responsible for managing 1,800 federal buildings including federal courthouses and Federal Acquisitions and Technological Transformation Services for the federal government. He was  involved in tons of capital projects, such as, Land Ports of Entry expansion, modernization, and reconstruction of federal buildings.  That experience added to his time on the IrvineCity Council is just impressive.  For Korean-American voters in the city, Kang is three times the political leader that Tammy Kim could ever hope to be.

Now it’s never an easy thing when a Democrat challenges an incumbent Democrat for a seat.  Liu is currently my representative.  I did not cast my ballot for her in 2024.  I am disappointed in the votes she has taken, especially in regards to the Great Park.   If her campaign team sends me her press releases, I promise to run them.  But I’ll be voting for Kang as soon as I get my ballot.