Meet Jackie Kan, running for Irvine City Council, California, District 1
Jackie is a mother, an Irvine resident, a working professional, and a leader dedicated to making sure that every voice is heard.
As a daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Jackie was born and raised in Southern California. Her parents moved to California for a brighter future, and supportive policies enabled Jackie and her sister to pursue higher education and successful careers. After becoming a mother and witnessing the 2016 election, she felt a strong desire to give back to her community. This led her to volunteer extensively, including serving on the Young Professionals Board of Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS), supporting survivors of domestic sex trafficking.
Even more, Jackie is also actively involved in her local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), a program that prepares citizens for emergencies such as fire disasters. Recently, she volunteered with Tech for Campaigns, an organization dedicated to empowering down-ballot Democrats across the U.S. As a team lead, she worked on a significant nonpartisan election for the Michigan Supreme Court following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which could have reinstated an old abortion ban. This experience reinforced her decision to serve her community. She believes the best place to start is locally, focusing on impactful community changes. Jackie appreciates the nonpartisan nature of city council work, addressing residents’ needs for safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, thriving small businesses, affordable housing, and other essential community services.
Jackie emphasized several key issues facing her district. While Irvine is generally a safe city, fire safety remains a critical concern, particularly in North Irvine, which is in a severe fire hazard zone. She stressed the importance of intentional outreach to the community, especially to the significant AAPI population, to ensure residents know what to do and where to go in case of a fire.
Childcare is another major challenge Jackie highlighted. Despite California’s pre-K program, securing affordable childcare for younger children remains difficult and expensive. She suggested increasing the number of childcare centers and providing subsidies to help offset costs for working families. Additionally, Jackie discussed the development of the Gateway Preserve, a project converting an old asphalt plant into open space and housing. She emphasized the importance of community input in planning this new space. Overall, Jackie aims to ensure that District 1 residents are represented and heard, especially with Irvine’s shift to district elections.
Jackie shared that she has a 15-year-old dog, a grumpy but lovable cockapoo whom she and her husband adopted from a shelter. As a busy parent to two young children, Jackie says that her favorite hobby is sleeping whenever she gets the chance. Additionally, she enjoys reading and cherishes quiet time with her long library of Kindle books.
Jackie’s diverse experiences and heartfelt dedication make her a candidate who is deeply connected to the people she aims to serve, promising a future where their needs and concerns are addressed with compassion and effectiveness.
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