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: Jeff Kitchen
Current job title: Senior Project Engineer
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Irvine
Campaign website or social media: Kitchenforirvine.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.)
We should take advantage of the requirements to add 50,000+ housing units by using the mandate to modernize Irvine. I’d like to see housing designed to provide affordably sized units earmarked for service and lower-tier workers who will be needed for local economy. I would seek minimal use of existing open space.
We should embrace emerging technology, such as air taxis as a way to connect Irvine to the new train stations being built in Los Angeles and the Inland Empire. The Great Park has sufficient space, and expanding rail locally may prove impractical. But a connector from the university to the Irvine Station seems a must.
New hotels should provide onsite lodging for key service employees. Modern tech can also be used to improve traffic. I have the technical and project skills to lead such efforts.
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.)
By building up, not out. Smaller units with bedrooms and bathrooms only could be designed to meet the needs of younger workers, sized and priced for entry-level ownership. Designed with community in mind with dorm-style access to common areas, and in buildings designed around a walkable community with easy access to markets to minimize storage needs. Improved public transit from the university to train station and airport going through a modernized downtown. Use of existing open space should be minimized.
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.)
California Energy Commission (CEC) data for 2021 showed an in-state generation of 194 terawatt hours from 82.9 GWe of installed capacity and net imports of 83.6 terawatt hours to give a total consumption of 278 terawatt hours. 49% of the California generated electricity was from fossil fuels. California needs to join with other western states to modernize our grid; offshore wind and solar are good, but the needs of a growing economy for non-fossil fuel electricity require more. The 300-megawatt nuclear generators being deployed elsewhere need to be part of the solution, as does liquid metal cooled reactors. The modern designs produce much less waste and need to be part of the solution. We only have one planet.
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.)
Access to affordable entry-level housing. See above. Also, I’d like to limit absentee landlords who own properties but choose to let them sit empty. Housing is for people, and a better balance can be sought between corporate/private equity interests and those of the local population.
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.)
Unlike virtually every other candidate, I have real-world experience developing and deploying complex systems across the globe. I understand economic systems and technology’s role in it. I am adept at explaining complex things to lay people (even managers).
In Irvine, our diversity is our strength, and our diverse economy offers a tone of opportunity. I plan to help young people get exposure to the many start-ups and existing firms Irvine supports. Having worked with young robotics teams (high school), I know our youth has the talent to keep Irvine at the top of the economic ladder. We must figure out how to support their housing, child care and civic needs. California can not be allowed to become an adults-only state.
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