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Tom Chomyn, Irvine City Council District 3 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire

October 5, 2024

Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.

MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide

Name: Tom Chomyn

Current job title: Commissioner of Community Services

Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan

Incumbent: No

Other political positions held: None

City where you reside: Irvine

Campaign website or social media: www.Tom4Irvine.com

Irvine is in the process of its first major general plan update in well over a decade. Since Irvine has traditionally been a master-planned community, what is your vision for the city as it continues to grow? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

My vision for Irvine’s growth centers on preserving our master plan framework, which has made us the safest city in the U.S. for eight years in a row. We must continue to fund our police department, ensuring they remain one of the highest-paid in Orange County and equipped with advanced technology.

As we grow, improving our transportation system will be crucial, and my background in urban planning will help guide these efforts. By maintaining our planning principles and enhancing public safety and transportation, we can ensure Irvine remains a sustainable, vibrant community.

How can the city best meet the demand and mandates for more housing, including at lower prices, while also preserving the quality of life for existing neighborhoods and residents? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

My urban planning background is ideal to help keep the master plan going and add housing for Irvine. Our original city plan is for 375,000 people and we are currently at 315,000. With the housing shortage in the state and affordability being a key issue for most people, we must hit this head-on.

My plan will first come with an extensive transportation plan along with a proper number of affordable housing units. The best places to build up will be in the Spectrum shopping area, Amtrak station district and Irvine Business Center off Jamboree Road. Expanding the Irvine Connection transportation system, encouraging businesses to hire people within Irvine limits and giving credits to apartment dwellers who live and work in Irvine. The goal is to take cars off the streets and freeways.

Irvine has a goal to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2030. That will take a lot of city outreach to accomplish. Where does climate change fall in your list of priorities? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

One of my top priorities is addressing climate change and achieving Irvine’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2045. I am actively supporting Vice Mayor Larry Agran’s forestation program, which aims to plant over 200,000 trees in the next five years. This initiative will help clean the air and cool our city, particularly in north and central Irvine.

Additionally, I propose offering $5,000 solar rebates to households and apartments to encourage the generation of cleaner energy. These efforts, combined with strong community outreach, are essential to making Irvine a leader in sustainability and environmental stewardship.

In your opinion, what is the biggest need your city faces, and how would you address it? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

The biggest need Irvine faces is maintaining our high quality of life while managing growth. To address this, we need to invest in community policing to uphold our outstanding public safety record in District 3 and citywide. We must also push forward with the Great Park framework plan, ensuring it serves the community’s needs. Improving transportation is crucial, particularly as the city expands. Additionally, modernizing and refurbishing our two libraries now under full city responsibility will enhance community services. Finally, we need to reinvest in our treasured District 3 parks — Heritage Park, Deerfield Park, Harvard Athletic Park and Northwood Park — ensuring they continue to be vibrant spaces for our residents.

Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities of your city? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)

A good leader listens with both ears and talks less. Leadership involves making tough decisions and acknowledging that it’s impossible to please everyone, but I am committed to working collaboratively with my six fellow councilmembers to achieve the best outcomes for Irvine.

My career has been marked by leadership roles in various projects, community services and athletic boards. One of my proudest achievements was leading the 2019 Irvine Veterans Memorial Park and Cemetery petition drive as the field director. I organized over 150 volunteers to gather nearly 20,000 signatures, surpassing our goal and securing 125 acres for the Veterans Memorial Park and Cemetery. We are now making progress on designing and building a 20-acre memorial on the old El Toro Marine base. This experience demonstrated my ability to unite and lead our community toward meaningful accomplishments.

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Tom Chomyn, Irvine City Council District 3 candidate, 2024 election questionnaire

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