Ahead of the March primary, The Orange County Register 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: Farrah Khan
Current Job Title: Mayor of Irvine
Political Party Affiliation: Nonpartisan
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: Irvine City Council (2018-20), Irvine Mayor (2020 – Present)
City where you reside: Irvine
Campaign website or social media: www.Khanforsupervisor.com
What experiences and priorities do you bring to the table? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that make you the person for this job?
As the elected mayor of Irvine, I have led our city with proactive problem-solving and community engagement while delivering tangible results. I led our city out of the pandemic successfully by focusing on safety for our residents and businesses. My efforts prioritizing housing, transportation, environment and small business initiatives have garnered the attention of the president, secretary of HSS, secretary of Labor and the state’s Infrastructure director which brought more funding than ever before. In addition, I have created an atmosphere in Irvine that is inclusive and celebrates our diversity by tackling social justice issues head-on.
As the next county supervisor, I will focus on solving the complex issues facing our county, including affordable housing, homelessness, mental health and substance abuse, environmental sustainability, open space and wildfires. I am committed to driving positive change as the next member of the Board of Supervisors.
Where in the county are we effectively putting money toward solutions to tackle homelessness? Where are the gaps in care when it comes to the homelessness issue? Are all communities being served or doing their fair share?
The county is doing a good job of supporting organizations that are at the forefront of providing care, resources and housing for the unhoused. However, we need to shift our focus from putting funding into traditional homeless shelters and focus on individualized care programs with temporary and permanent supportive housing.
We know that traditional shelters don’t work. It’s critical to understand the needs of unhoused individuals. They may include mental health needs, some being critical enough for us to utilize CARE courts, the legislation I advocated and spoke in favor of. There may be substance abuse issues, medical needs or just financial instability.
Once we know the needs, we can develop a personalized program. By removing funds from building traditional homeless shelters and redirecting the funds toward case management-based temporary housing — a “wellness center” — we can reduce our homeless population. This is a system that can work in any city, especially those that have been resistant to traditional shelters.
But it doesn’t stop there, we need to prevent individuals from becoming homeless. In Irvine, I initiated the Eviction Diversion Program, bringing together our community organizations and landlords. We created the program so people experiencing potential eviction due to loss of income, medical emergency, etc., would get rent assistance and support to help them remain housed and stabilize their situation. I look forward to expanding this program in Orange County.
We need someone in District 3 who has proven she can tackle our most pressing issues and deliver solutions.
Looking at the county’s yearly budget, is there a department or project that has not received the attention it needs? How would you make sure those needs are addressed?
Orange County receives the lowest amount of revenue from property taxes in California which limits the opportunity to increase funding or respond to growing challenges. As mayor, I succeeded in getting Irvine a seat at the table with Gov. Gavin Newsom as part of the Big City Mayors Coalition. This brought millions of dollars in resources and support to the city. I intend to use these relationships to advocate on behalf of the county.
Given the upcoming budget deficits, we need to examine our spending and ensure that we are the best stewards of the dollars we have access to. Moving forward, we need to secure funding for the expansion of social services in order to meet the needs of our community, especially foster care and resolve our homelessness crisis. We need to have more case management programs for individualized care.
The public expects full transparency from public leaders. How can this be achieved? How can the county do better in this area?
Full transparency from public leaders is crucial for building trust with the public. To achieve this, the county can enhance transparency by strengthening oversight mechanisms. Collaborating closely with independent bodies like the Office of Independent Review and heeding the findings of institutions such as the OC Grand Jury can contribute to accountability and effective governance.
In response to the identified mismanagement and waste, addressing underlying structural issues is imperative rather than dismissing critical reports. Emphasizing cooperation between leaders and oversight entities can foster a culture of openness and responsiveness. This approach aligns with the public’s expectation for transparent governance, ensuring that leaders actively engage with and address concerns raised by independent bodies.
In the Third District, there is an opportunity to implement reforms, reinforce accountability and restore confidence in leadership.
The county oversees unincorporated territories where it can encourage housing, how else can it stimulate the development of affordable rent/housing in Orange County?
Collaboration is crucial for promoting the development of affordable housing in Orange County, going beyond the management of unincorporated areas. The county needs to actively seek ways to incentivize new developments and engage with cities.
It is unacceptable that the current wait list for housing will take over a decade to place residents. In Irvine, I was part of the team that worked with a developer to deliver 29.1% affordable units for an upcoming residential project. I’m willing to meet with city leaders to find ways to incentivize housing opportunities for our young professionals, seniors and more.
We’re not going to solve the housing crisis by just talking about it. We know we need more, and it’s time we take a proactive and collaborative approach; sit at the table with developers and community partners to see where we can develop to make the most impact in Orange County.
