RAFU WIRE SERVICE AND STAFF REPORTS

NEWPORT BEACH — Former Irvine City Councilmember Tammy Kim was scheduled to be arraigned May 23 on charges of lying about where she lived while she ran for office.

Kim, who was on the council from 2020 through last year, allegedly updated her address to a home on Alaris Aisle, where she never lived, according to the
Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

After Kim lost her bid for mayor in November, she filed in December for the special election for City Council in what would become District 5, prosecutors said. She listed her residence as the address on Alaris Aisle despite living in District 3, prosecutors alleged.

At the home she listed on Alaris Aisle lived someone she met through a Korean teaching class and his wife and their two children, prosecutors said. She was accused of using the address without the family knowing about it, prosecutors said.

Kim put down a $400 deposit on a room for rent in a home on Willowrun in District 5 on Jan. 10, updated her driver’s registration to the address the same day and filed new nomination papers for that address a week later, prosecutors alleged.

When a resident challenged her candidacy based on the residency allegations, she was knocked off the ballot by an Orange County Superior Court judge in February for the April special election, prosecutors said.

Councilmember Betty Martinez Franco won the special election to represent District 5.

Kim is charged with three counts of perjury, three counts of filing a false document and one count each of a public official aiding illegal casting of votes, filing fraudulent nomination papers, not being entitled to vote in an election and voter registration fraud, all felonies, and a misdemeanor count of making false statements.

In a statement on Feb. 7, Kim said: “Effectively immediately, I have withdrawn from the special City Council election. My decision to withdraw was not due to the baseless legal challenge. I was fully eligible to run. Having moved to Woodbridge, I met the residency requirements for the seat.

“My withdrawal stems from a deeper issue. I believe that candidates for local office — and their families — should not be subjected to harassment. It has come to light that this harassment and legal challenge were orchestrated and funded by corporate lobbyists from Live Nation. They are targeting me because I prioritized our community’s needs over their profit-driven agenda.

“A week ago, I attempted to settle this matter to end the harassment and regain focus on my personal life. However, the conditions proposed by the plaintiff were entirely unacceptable and unrelated to my residency qualifications. They demanded I sign an affidavit with:

“False statements about a 2023 City Council vote regarding Live Nation. They sought to wrongfully accuse Councilmember (Kathleen) Treseder, a vocal critic of Live Nation and their lobbyists, of alleged Brown Act violations — claims that are baseless …
“Attempts to discredit city staff in a blatant effort to pave the way for Live Nation’s reentry into Irvine under the new council.

“My support for Anthony Kuo for Irvine City Council.

“Non-disparagement clauses that would prevent me from criticizing Live Nation, Patrick Strader, Anthony Kuo, Ron Scolesdang, James Mai, and other figures linked to the Republican Party.

“I refused to sign such a manipulative and dishonest affidavit. This ordeal has clearly demonstrated that their lawsuit was never about my residency — it was an attempt to buy influence and exert control over our city, driven by corruption and the interests of those they support, including Anthony Kuo.

“We are in an era where corporate interests, armed with deep pockets, seek to influence our elections through any means necessary. They have launched a misinformation campaign and have weaponized our justice system to target me and drain my financial resources.

“We filed an opposition to the petition and a motion to strike the petition under California’s anti-SLAPP law. Our case was strong and the anti-SLAPP motion put the plaintiff in danger of having to pay me extensive attorneys’ fees. They came back to me wanting to settle and dropped their outrageous demands. I believe that our strong response was a major factor that forced them to settle by allowing me to withdraw as I had sought to do a week earlier.

“Although I am withdrawing from this election, I love Irvine. My commitment to serving our community remains steadfast. I will continue to work tirelessly to support and improve our community.”

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