Candidate for
Mayor; City of Irvine

Larry and Phyllis Agran, both natives of Los Angeles, graduated from UC Berkeley in 1966, the same year they were married. In 1975, they moved to the newly-formed city of Irvine. By then, Larry had graduated with honors from Harvard Law School, specializing in Public Interest Law, while Phyllis had earned two Masters degrees, in Biology (Boston University) and Public Health (Harvard University).

When they arrived in Irvine, the city had just 30,000 residents. Phyllis was part of the first wave of women admitted to UCI Medical School. She went on to become a pediatrician, while Larry continued his career as a public interest attorney before winning a seat on the Irvine City Council in 1978.

Since those early days, Irvine has grown to 225,000 people and has become America's largest and most successful planned city. As a young Councilmember and then Mayor in the 1980s, Larry led the effort to secure voter approval of Irvine's sweeping Open Space Initiative, ensuring that even as the city grew, 16,000 acres of natural open space would be forever preserved for the use and enjoyment of future generations.

Since returning to the City Council in 1998, Larry has served as City Councilmember, Mayor, and Chair of the Orange County Great Park Corporation. His leadership was instrumental in defeating the proposed El Toro International Airport and winning voter approval of the 1,347-acre Great Park -- America's first great metropolitan park of the 21st century.

Larry has continued to work tirelessly to ensure Irvine's success in other areas as well. Irvine has emerged as one of America's leading cities in establishing quality residential neighborhoods, affordable housing, community parks, modern business centers, energy conservation programs, and excellent public schools. And, according to FBI statistics on violent crime, Irvine has been America's safest city for the past eight years. Larry's leadership and hard work have helped to make Irvine the "Safest, Smartest, and Greenest" city in America.

Larry and Phyllis continue to live in the same home they purchased in the 1970s, and where they raised their son Ken, who is now an attorney and writer. He too lives in Irvine with his wife Kerrie and two children -- daughter Morgan, age 10, and son Benjamin, who is 3.

"Grandma Phyllis" is now a Professor Emeritus at UCI and continues to be a practicing pediatric gastroenterologist. And, of course, "Grandpa Larry" continues to serve as an Irvine Councilmember, working hard every day to make sure the city he and his family love continues moving forward.