Meet Anthony Kuo
From Irvine • For Irvine
Anthony Kuo has lived in Irvine's newly drawn City Council District 5 for over 30 years. He grew up near the North Lake in Woodbridge, attended Alderwood Basics Plus, Lakeside Middle, Woodbridge and University High schools. His family built and, for over 20 years, ran Chinatown Restaurant, a small business right across the street from UC Irvine.
First elected to the City Council in 2018 after serving nearly eight years as a Commissioner, Anthony was unanimously selected by his colleagues to serve as Vice Mayor. He represented Irvine on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Fire Authority where he was Vice Chairman and the Irvine Community Land Trust where he was President. Additionally, Anthony served on the Board of the Orange County Sanitation District and represented all of Orange County's Mayors and Councilmembers on the County's Emergency Medical Services Committee.
He has represented the Council on both the Irvine Unified School District and Tustin Unified School District Liaison Committees, and the Boards of the Irvine Barclay Theatre and the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. As a City Councilmember, Anthony also serves on the Board of Directors of the Orange County Great Park where he was twice the Vice Chair.
Outside of City Hall, Anthony volunteers on the Board of Directors for the Irvine Children's Fund, on the Steering Committee for ICF's Irvine Junior Games, and on the Advisory Board for Crime Survivors Inc. He also served five years on the Board of Directors of the Exchange Club of Irvine, including a three-year assignment as President-elect, President and Immediate Past President. In addition to serving on the planning committees for the Teacher of the Year Dinner, Police Awards Banquet and the Irvine Unified School District Scholar Athletes Dinner, Anthony chaired Irvine’s Thanksgiving Community Prayer Breakfast for four consecutive years.
He has served on the Board of Directors of both the BYU Management Society of Orange County and Raise Foundation of Orange County, as well as the Board of Governors of the Irvine Valley College Foundation. He remains active in a number of children and youth advocacy charities.
In 2020, Engaging Local Government Leaders recognized Anthony with the "Traeger Award," and named him one of the Top Influencers in Local Government. He received the 2021 Hero Award from ProcureAmerica for efficiency and cost management on behalf of Taxpayers.
Awards & Recognition
2000 – Commendation for Public Service, City of Irvine
2003 – Certificate of Recognition, County of Orange
2003 – Certificate of Recognition, California State Senate
2003 – Certificate of Recognition, California State Assembly
2007 – Executive Leadership Series, Orange County Forum
2008 – Exchange Clubs of California – Hawaii – Nevada, Member of the Year
Community Service
2001-2005 – Board of Governors, Irvine Valley College Foundation
2003-2008 – Board of Directors Exchange Club of Irvine
2004-2008 – Chairman, Irvine Thanksgiving Community Prayer Breakfast
2010-present – Board of Directors, Brigham Young University Management Society of Orange County
2013-2015 – Irvine Business Complex Vision Plan Committee
2013-2015 – Task Force on Housing Needs for the Developmentally Disabled
2014-2015 – Ad Hoc Committee on Veterans Affordable Housing
2015-present – Advisory Board, Brandman University
2016-present - Irvine Junior Games Committee
2016-present – Board of Directors, Irvine Children’s Fund
2018 - Graduate, Irvine Community Police Academy
