While Larry is a proven environmental leader, he also believes strongly in protecting Irvine taxpayers and electricity ratepayers. That’s why Larry is the only candidate running for Mayor who has spoken out against the forced enrollment of all Irvine businesses and households in the disastrous Orange County Power Authority (OCPA).

Larry has been raising red flags about OCPA since rejoining the Council in late 2020. In the meantime, a scathing Orange County Grand Jury report has been released along with a County and State audit. All three investigations revealed gross mismanagement, deception, and financial instability at OCPA.

OCPA has already been fined millions of dollars by California State regulators for not purchasing enough electricity to prevent blackouts. And, there is no proof that OCPA has actually been delivering cleaner electricity to its Irvine customers.

So far, $7.7 million of Irvine taxpayer dollars have been advanced to OCPA without any oversight by the City. The City of Irvine also backed OCPA’s $35 million line of credit with Union Bank. (Larry was the only member of the City Council to vote NO!)

In 2022, every Irvine-based business and every Irvine household was transferred from their previous provider of electricity — Southern California Edison — and enrolled in the new OCPA plan at a significantly higher monthly rate.

As Larry stated: “Forcing every Irvine resident and business into a new, more expensive electricity plan without a vote of the people is flat-out wrong!”

For nearly two years, his Council colleagues blocked Larry’s efforts to place an item regarding OCPA on the Council agenda. But, that didn’t stop him. Larry began using his 3-minutes of “Announcements” during each Council meeting to publicly express his concerns and educate the public on the fiasco at OCPA.

As Irvine’s Mayor, Larry will get our City back on track. He will implement policies that ensure we meet the City’s ambitious goal of carbon-neutrality by 2030 — without gouging Irvine residents and business owners.

As Irvine’s Mayor in 1988, Larry worked alongside our City’s residents to pass an historic ballot initiative that preserved more than 10,000 acres of Open Space for families to enjoy,  forever free from development.

Since re-joining the City Council in late 2020, Larry has once again joined forces with Irvine residents. Through their tireless work, the City has now shut down a dangerous asphalt plant in north Irvine and is restoring the land to its natural form.

For years, the asphalt plant was the City’s largest industrial polluter, spewing noxious and toxic chemicals in the air every day, including two known human carcinogens (formaldehyde and benzene).

The asphalt plant’s continued operation in Irvine was simply incompatible with good air quality and our Irvine quality of life.

Now, the land will be home to the “Gateway Preserve,” which will provide new recreational and environmental opportunities to connect Irvine residents to tens of thousands of acres of open space.

As Irvine’s Mayor, Larry will make sure that our City continues to be a beacon of environmental stewardship through thoughtful planning and citizen involvement.