Maksim “Max” Egorov is a Candidate for Irvine Mayor. This Interview was conducted over email. Questions and Responses have been edited for grammar and clarity.
Christopher Wong
Why Max?
Max Egorov
I’ve been attending city meetings for quite a while. I spoke publicly, and not always did I feel that the voices of the people who came were being heard. Also, I’ve seen some division on the council. I will try my best to find a compromise on certain subjects. Some items were brought up many times again and again.
Christopher Wong
How do we tackle services and needs while dealing with our current Budget challenges?
Max Egorov
We need to address the structural budget deficit. This is a high-priority task. Last meeting, October 13, 2026, the council voted on certain items to address the budget deficit. It’s a good start but not enough to address the issue. I can propose to cut the Mayor’s office budget in half. I think there is room to reduce the mayor’s office budget even further, but I want to be careful. I will encourage other council members to do the same and lead by example.
Christopher Wong
How will you uphold land/open-space protections and ensure residents get a voice on major development decisions?
Max Egorov
That’s actually one of the reasons why my name is on the ballot. Previous generations were able to secure a large amount of open space for future generations, so we have to continue this mission. Any changes to the open space framework should be voted on by the people. In my opinion, without a public vote, it will be the voters’ rights issue. I do not want voters’ rights to be taken away from people.
Any changes to the open space framework should be voted on by the people
Christopher Wong
How do we address housing needs for people who want to work and live in Irvine?
Max Egorov
We have to have long-term solutions. If the requirement to keep rent affordable expires in 10-20-30 or even 50 years, it’s not enough. We have to see what other cities are doing. If the requirement expires at the end, I don’t think residents and the city get the true benefit, perhaps short-term, yes, but not long-term, in my opinion. I would like to remind that the city council voted on the MOU in May 2025 with a 2-year voucher program. How will 2 years help us solve affordability? If that was such a great idea, why did the community push back, and to my knowledge, that MOU was never executed. I just recently learned that the MOU concerning Oak Creek was never executed. I’m talking about the first MOU approved in May 2025.
Christopher Wong
What steps will you take to ease traffic congestion on major corridors and improve e-bike safety around schools and parks?
Max Egorov
We have to improve our traffic lights. What is interesting is that when some developers talk about new projects, they talk about possible mitigating traffic impacts with signal lights synchronization. Why can’t we fix traffic lights first? In my community, I make a left turn, and 98% of the time I stop at the red light on the main road, and I’m sure I have a similar problem in other communities. We have to help our residents to move around the city easily. I don’t know if we can do it because of the budget constraints. We definitely need to look and make rules for e-bikes stronger at least to the maximum extent we can in the city, and look at other cities and adopt what they are already doing.
Christopher Wong
How would you maintain Irvine’s status as America’s safest city?
Max Egorov
I believe people very much appreciate living in a safe city. We have to keep it. From City Hall I will continue to support public safety and necessary investments in safety, including new technology when it is not interfering with people’s privacy. Yes, I’m talking about Flock cameras. I don’t believe we need Flock cameras on Irvine’s streets.
Christopher Wong
How would you encourage Economic/Business Development in the City?
Max Egorov
Businesses look for more than incentives, and Irvine has to compete with other cities. We have a strong foundation: safety, protected open space, and a great reputation. We need to build on those strengths. Attracting companies also means being a place where their employees want to live and work—with good restaurants, parks, recreation activities, and places for families to enjoy. No single incentive can replace that quality of life. We need to preserve it while making it easier to start and grow a business here. I’ve heard that our current mayor discussed proposals that sounded like new taxes on businesses. I strongly oppose new taxes. The city needs to live within its means and provide services without continually asking people to pay more. Higher business taxes can discourage companies from coming to Irvine or expanding here. Businesses may also pass those costs on to customers through higher prices. We should focus on spending wisely and creating an environment where businesses can succeed.
The city needs to live within its means and provide services without continually asking people to pay more.
Christopher Wong
Where do you see Irvine in the next 4 years, and what would you do to help us get there?
Max Egorov
The mayor’s term is two years, but we need to think beyond one term. In four years, I want Irvine to remain a city of opportunity—a place where people can start businesses, build careers, and raise families. I want to see new businesses and high-tech companies bringing well-paying jobs to our community. To help get there, I would focus on responsible spending, making it easier to start and grow a business, and preserving the safety and open spaces that make Irvine special. I would also propose an annual forum bringing together former mayors, council members, and interested commissioners to discuss important challenges, including our budget and future needs. With term limits and leadership changes, but valuable experience should not be lost. We need a way to pass that knowledge to the next generation of leaders. Current officials would still make their own decisions, but we should listen carefully to those who served before us and learn from their experience.
My goal is an Irvine that preserves what makes it special while creating opportunities for future generations.