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James Mai

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James Mai
Image of James Mai
Irvine City Council District 3
Tenure

2024 - Present

Term ends

2028

Years in position

0

Elections and appointments
Last elected

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Lakewood High School

Bachelor's

Kent State University

Graduate

Universidad Isabel I

Personal
Birthplace
Cleveland, Ohio
Profession
CEO
Contact

James Mai is a member of the Irvine City Council in California, representing District 3. He assumed office on December 10, 2024. His current term ends in 2028.

Mai ran for election to the Irvine City Council to represent District 3 in California. He won in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Mai completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

James Mai was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned a high school diploma from Lakewood High School, a bachelor's degree from Kent State University, and a graduate degree from the Universidad Isabel I. His career experience includes working as a CEO with experience in entrepreneurship, international business, and nonprofit endeavors. He has been affiliated with Bristol & Bates, Bristol & Bates Children's Foundation, and AAPI United.[1] Mai was selected by his fellow council members to serve as Vice Mayor for the 2025 term. [2]

Elections

2024

See also: City elections in Irvine, California (2024)

General election

General election for Irvine City Council District 3

James Mai defeated Tom Chomyn and Jing Sun in the general election for Irvine City Council District 3 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of James Mai
James Mai (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
44.0
 
8,968
Image of Tom Chomyn
Tom Chomyn (Nonpartisan)
 
28.7
 
5,845
Image of Jing Sun
Jing Sun (Nonpartisan) Candidate Connection
 
27.3
 
5,569

Total votes: 20,382
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

To view Mai's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Mai in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Video for Ballotpedia

Video submitted to Ballotpedia
Released October 2, 2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

James Mai completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mai's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I hail from the heartland, born and raised with Midwestern values of hard work and perseverance. As a child, I visited family in Orange County in the summers and dreamed of one day calling it home. As an adult, with determination and a mere $200, I embarked on a journey to California, starting from humble beginnings couch surfing in Irvine. Through unwavering determination, I built an international management consulting firm from the ground up. Alongside this professional journey, I remained true to my promise of service to others, working with and later founding non-profits dedicated to uplifting families and children in need. Guided by the lessons of my upbringing—hard work, grit, and resilience—I overcame many obstacles. Now, I dedicate my time and experiences to serving communities in need, advocating for those without a voice, helping feed families across the county, and assisting seniors, veterans, and individuals with housing needs and other essentials. You can find me and my wife distributing food to hundreds of families each month, working with individuals in need to find affordable housing, or advocating for victims of crime. I don't claim to be a politician, nor have I ever considered running for office; instead, I'm a father and a fellow resident who believes in the power of positive change and giving back. I'm running for office to be the authentic voice of our community, committed to making a difference where it truly matters - here in the city.
  • Community-Driven Leadership/ People over Politics - Irvine deserves leadership that prioritizes people over politics. I’m committed to serving the residents of District 3 by listening, engaging, and taking real action to address their concerns. My focus is on safety, supporting local businesses, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and promoting transparency in decision-making processes
  • Safety & Accountability First - A safer community is a stronger community. From e-bike safety to public safety, I will work to enhance enforcement and proactive measures to protect our families, seniors, and children. I am endorsed and supported by Irvine Police, OC Firefighters, and OC Sheriff Don Barnes.
  • I will work to preserve Irvine's Legacy - There is a reason many original owners and Irvine residents support me. I will work to maintain Irvine’s high standards by preserving our parks, supporting our great schools, and fostering innovation. Together, we can ensure that Irvine remains a top city to live, work, and raise a family. M
Public Safety, Fiscal Responsibility/Accountability, Supporting Seniors and Veterans, Education and Youth Development, Preserving our Parks and Open Spaces.
"Won't You Be My Neighbor?" by Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers). Like Mr. Rogers, I believe in focusing on the well-being of our communities and addressing issues with empathy and kindness.
My candidacy is distinguished by a blend of executive leadership and a deep-rooted commitment to social good and community. My experience as an entrepreneur founding multiple companies, along with my experience founding and leading non-profits to support families and children, and leadership positions in public office, underscore my dedication to practical, empathetic, and community-focused leadership for Irvine.
I believe a balance of strong life experience and community leadership is needed to this role. Irvine is a very unique city, I believe the core responsibilities/values would be Integrity, Community-Centered Leadership, Dedication to Public Safety, Vision, and a strong commitment to fiscal responsibility.
I strive to make a positive impact on the lives of others, this is the legacy I want to leave behind, remembered for positive change and influencing others to "pay it forward"., a grand legacy is not required but knowing you are able to help someone achieve more or improve their life something special to me personally.
My very first job was a paperboy (12 years old), delivering the Plain Dealer (a Cleveland, Ohio based Newspaper). I had this job for a few years growing up, my mother would help me with the route during the winter, driving her station wagon through the snow so I could deliver the papers to the neighborhood.
Good to Great" by Jim Collins. It's not just about short-term wins—whether in business or in city governance—but about creating lasting positive change. This book reinforces the idea that with the right focus, dedication, and people-first approach, you can turn good into great, which is exactly what I aim to do for Irvine.
Irvine Police Association, Orange County Professional Firefighters Association, Orange County Taxpayers Association PAC, Crime Survivors PAC, Orange County Employees Association, Associated Supervisors Administrative Personnel, Irvine City Employees Association (ICEA), Irvine Professional Employees Association (IPEA), California Women’s Leadership Association PAC
I firmly believe that taxpayers should have access to clear, understandable information about where their money is going. I will push for transparent, user-friendly budgets that are easily accessible online and open for public review. Irvine does a great job of publishing this information for residents, and I'm fully supportive of that. In terms of accountability, I believe that the community should be involved in the decision making process and be able to voice their concerns within the decision making process.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 7, 2024
  2. City of Irvine, "Meet Vice Mayor James Mai," accessed February 6, 2025

Political offices
Preceded by
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Irvine City Council District 3
2024-Present
Succeeded by
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