James Mai
James Mai | |
|---|---|
 James Mai, 2025 | |
| Vice Mayor of Irvine | |
| Assumed office January 14, 2025 | |
| Member of the Irvine City Council (District 3) | |
| Assumed office December 10, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | — |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Business executive, philanthropist, local government official |
| Website | jamesmai |
James Mai is an American business executive, nonprofit founder, and local elected official serving as Vice Mayor of Irvine, California, and the inaugural councilmember representing Irvine's District 3.[1] He is the first Vietnamese American to hold elected office in Irvine.[1]
Early life and education
Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Mai attended Kent State University and pursued additional studies at Purdue University and graduate programs abroad in corporate communications and business administration.[1] He has publicly discussed being raised by both his Vietnamese family and an American adoptive family.[2]
Business and nonprofit leadership
Before elected office, Mai spent over two decades in international consulting. He is managing partner of Bristol & Bates, working across North America, Europe, and Asia, and previously founded an executive search firm in 2004.[1] He has also founded and led 501(c)(3) organizations supporting children, people with special needs, and underserved families in Orange County.[1]
Political career
Mai was elected in November 2024 as the first District 3 councilmember and took office on December 10, 2024.[3] He was selected by his colleagues as Vice Mayor on January 14, 2025.[4]
Council initiatives and coverage
In 2025, Irvine hosted its first city-sponsored Fourth of July celebration at the Great Park after Mai brought the idea forward in February; attendance exceeded 40,000, the largest city-sponsored event to date, prompting calls for a task force to improve logistics for 2026.[5][6]
Mai also questioned a proposed gondola-style transit system at the Great Park, raising concerns about safety, costs, and vendor data during board deliberations covered by regional media.[7]
Reporting throughout 2024–2025 has also covered Irvine council actions on affordable student housing partnerships,[8] warehouse siting rules near residential areas,[9] veterans cemetery debates at the Great Park,[10] and potential ballot measures related to open space and the Oak Creek Golf Course site.[11][12][13]
In December 2024, Voice of OC reported Irvine’s move to notify the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA) of plans to depart, a development affecting regional energy policy. Mai proposed this switch stating, “I think people should have a choice, but it needs to be a transparent one,” Mai said. “(The letter) sends a message – no organization will have the power to bully us.”[14]
Civic involvement and boards
Mai serves in leadership roles across regional organizations, including:
- Vice Chairman of the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA)[15]
- Board member at the Irvine Community Land Trust[1]
- Member of the Great Park Board[1]
- Board member at the Irvine Barclay Theatre[1]
- President of the Irvine Community Alliance Fund (ICAF), a nonprofit founded over 30 years ago that raises millions annually to support programs such as senior services and the Irvine Animal Care Center[1]
Political significance
Mai has been noted as the first Vietnamese American elected official in Irvine.[1][16]
Personal life
Mai lives in Irvine’s District 3 with his family.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 "Vice Mayor James Mai – District 3". City of Irvine. December 5, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Turning Struggles Into Hope: The Journey of Vice Mayor James Mai From Refugee Roots to Irvine Leadership". South Coast Chinese Cultural Association. May 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2025.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ "James Mai". Ballotpedia. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ↑ "James Mai appointed as Irvine Vice Mayor". Orange County Register. January 15, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ↑ Hicks, Angelina (July 10, 2025). "Can Irvine's Great Park Handle Large-Scale Events?". Voice of OC. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Will Irvine host a grand Fourth of July festival? City leaders are discussing the idea". Orange County Register. February 28, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ↑ Farzan, Yusra (April 23, 2025). "Irvine's massive Great Park could get a system of gondolas to ferry visitors around". LAist. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Irvine Rolls Out Affordable Housing Program For Homeless Students". Voice of OC. April 22, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Irvine Rethinking How Large Warehouses and Residences Mix". Voice of OC. January 16, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Irvine Again Rejects Veterans Cemetery Proposal in Great Park". Voice of OC. May 28, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Is Irvine Going to Ask Voters for Approval to Develop a Golf Course into Housing?". Voice of OC. July 8, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Irvine Voters Could Decide Future of Open Spaces in City". Voice of OC. July 22, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ↑ "Irvine to Consider Options For Open Space Preservation Ballot Measure". Voice of OC. July 28, 2025. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ↑ "OC's Green Power Agency Could Lose Most of its Customers". Voice of OC. December 13, 2024. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
- ↑ "James Mai – OCPA Board". Orange County Power Authority. Retrieved August 10, 2025.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ Bloom, Roger (February 2025). "Meet District 3 Councilmember: James Mai". Irvine Community News & Views. Retrieved August 10, 2025.
External links
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