Transparency requires the immediate public release of the Irvine City Council candidates’ applications, as well as the postponement of any hearings on the applicants until the public has had time to read them.

The City Council explicitly promised that the application process would be open and transparent.

The Council also stated that the public would have the right to participate meaningfully in the appointment  process.

However, consideration of the candidates by the Council based on applications that are hidden from the public is the very opposite of transparency and openness.

In addition, transparency and openness requires that the public have sufficient time to read and review these applications before any public hearing on appointments.

Therefore, I plan to call upon my colleagues on the City Council to order staff to immediately release the candidates’ applications, and that any hearing be postponed for at least one week to give the public time to read and consider them.