Betty Martinez Franco
Candidate for City Council Member, Irvine, District 5 · Councilmember/Businessowner
Betty Martinez Franco immigrated to the United States from Mexico more than 30 years ago and worked in apple fields, hotel housekeeping, and childcare while rebuilding her life with her two daughters. She went on to earn an associate's degree from Orange Coast College, a bachelor's degree in communications from Cal State Fullerton, a master's in public administration from the USC Price School of Public Policy, and a graduate certificate in city and county management, also from USC Price. She founded and leads Prisma Communications, a multicultural public relations firm specializing in culturally competent communications and civic engagement campaigns for minority-owned businesses and Fortune 500 companies across California. She served nearly three years on Irvine's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, eventually as vice chair, and is a founding board member of the Hispanic Public Relations Association's Orange County chapter and an active member of the National Latina Business Women Association-Los Angeles. In April 2025 she won a special election to the Irvine City Council, becoming the first Latina and first Mexican immigrant elected to the council.
Positions in brief
Martinez Franco focuses on affordable housing near transit and job centers, easing traffic congestion, supporting small businesses, and ensuring investment reaches every part of Irvine, including neighborhoods she says have been historically underfunded.
Martinez Franco says she is pushing back against Irvine's rising cost of living and advocates for expanded affordable housing and increased access for working families, favoring housing density near transit hubs, shopping centers and job corridors to prevent overcrowding in existing neighborhoods, combined with developer accountability and a mix of market-rate and affordable units. She launched a pilot bike-share program connecting Woodbridge, City Hall and UC Irvine and partnered with police on youth e-bike safety training. As a councilmember she helped establish Irvine's first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Office and created the city's first Women's Conference during Women's History Month. She supported Irvine joining the Perdomo v. Noem lawsuit opposing what she characterizes as unlawful ICE enforcement actions.
On the issues
Advocates for expanded affordable housing and housing density near transit and job centers.
“pushing back against Irvine's rising cost of living”
Source →Supports expanding alternative transportation and e-bike safety.
Source →Opposes what she calls unlawful ICE enforcement actions in Irvine.
Source →Supports institutionalizing diversity, equity and inclusion work in city government.
Source →
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