James Mai
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James Mai | |
|---|---|
| Vice Mayor of Irvine | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2025 | |
| Member of the Irvine City Council | |
| Assumed office December 10, 2024 | |
| Constituency | District 3 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Maine (MA) |
| Occupation | Business executive and politician |
James Mai is an American business executive and politician who has served on the Irvine City Council representing District 3 since December 2024. The council selected him as Vice Mayor in January 2025.[1][2]
Early life and education
Mai was born in Cleveland, Ohio. A profile published by the South Coast Chinese Cultural Association described his upbringing in Vietnamese and American adoptive families and his family's post-Vietnam War refugee history.[3]
He earned a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from the University of Maine.[1]
Business and nonprofit work
Before his election to the city council, Mai worked in business consulting and executive recruitment. He founded Bristol & Bates, a consulting firm, and established nonprofit organizations involved in children's services, food assistance and Asian American community advocacy.[1][3]
Political career
Irvine City Council
Mai was elected in November 2024 to represent the newly established District 3 on the Irvine City Council and took office on December 10, 2024.[1] On January 14, 2025, the council selected him to serve as vice mayor.[2]
During his council tenure, Mai has participated in deliberations concerning the Orange County Great Park, regional energy policy, municipal infrastructure and city-sponsored public events.
Orange County Great Park
In April 2025, Mai questioned a proposed automated transit system at the Orange County Great Park. During Great Park board deliberations, he raised concerns about safety, operating costs and information provided by the proposed vendor.[4]
Mai also proposed a city-sponsored Fourth of July celebration at the Great Park. Following the first event in 2025, Voice of OC reported on traffic, transportation and infrastructure concerns associated with holding large public events at the site.[5]
Orange County Power Authority
Mai has represented Irvine on the board of the Orange County Power Authority. In September 2025, Voice of OC quoted him during discussions concerning Irvine's representation on the authority's governing board.[6]
In November 2025, the publication reported that Mai participated in discussions concerning repayment of a loan Irvine had provided to the authority.[7]
Youth civic engagement
In February 2026, the Orange County Register reported on a student leadership conference organized by Mai at Irvine City Hall. More than 140 high school students participated in a policy competition addressing subjects including housing, environmental policy and public safety.[8]
Resignation from Rotary leadership
In July 2026, Mai resigned from the Rotary Club of Orange County–LA and from his position as vice chair of its fundraising foundation following the installation of former Irvine mayor Farrah Khan as club president.[9][10][11]
Mai told the Jewish News Syndicate that he objected to social-media statements attributed to Khan that he considered antisemitic. The report stated that the Jewish Community Action Network, Israeli-American Council and Jewish Federation of Orange County had separately urged the Rotary organization not to install Khan. JNS reported that it sought comment from Khan, the Rotary club and Rotary International.[9][11]
Irvine Budget Deficit
In fiscal year 2025-2026, the city of Irvine faced a budget deficit of $6 million due to increasing costs and a growing city staff. If not addressed, the deficit was expected to grow to $9 million in the next year. Mai took a proactive approach to the deficit problem, urging his fellow council members to take immediate action and institute a hiring freeze for all non-essential positions until the issue could be both investigated and discussed in further meetings.[12][13][14]
Personal life
Mai has lived in Irvine for 26 years and has two sons.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "Vice Mayor James Mai – District 3". City of Irvine. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "James Mai appointed as Irvine Vice Mayor". Orange County Register. January 15, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Turning Struggles Into Hope: The Journey of Vice Mayor James Mai From Refugee Roots to Irvine Leadership". South Coast Chinese Cultural Association. April 25, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ Farzan, Yusra (April 23, 2025). "Irvine's massive Great Park could get a system of gondolas to ferry visitors around". LAist. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ Hicks, Angelina (July 10, 2025). "Can Irvine's Great Park Handle Large-Scale Events?". Voice of OC. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ "Is Orange County's Struggling Green Power Agency Bouncing Back?". Voice of OC. September 24, 2025. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ Hicks, Angelina (November 18, 2025). "Irvine Officials Look to Use Loan Repayment Funds for Sustainability Projects". Voice of OC. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ Le, Victoria (February 3, 2026). "Irvine high school students compete to make change in City Hall". Orange County Register. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Bandler, Aaron (July 16, 2026). "Exclusive: Irvine vice mayor resigns from Rotary leadership over new club president's alleged Jew-hatred". Jewish News Syndicate. Retrieved July 17, 2026.
- ↑ Heiman, Julie (July 23, 2026). "Rotary elevates anti-Israel 'conspiracy' theorist in Orange County". New York Post. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Bandler, Aaron (July 16, 2026). "EXCLUSIVE: Irvine vice mayor resigns from Rotary leadership over new president's alleged Jew-hatred". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
- ↑ Biesiada, Noah (April 13, 2026). "Irvine Wrestles With Budget Shortfall Amid Questions on Future Stability". Voice of OC. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
- ↑ Le, Victoria (April 17, 2026). "Irvine City Council split on how to handle a budget problem, who is getting information". Orange County Register. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
- ↑ "City of Irvine. (April 14, 2026). "City Council Regular Meeting."". City of Irvine. Retrieved July 31, 2026.
External links
This article "James Mai" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.