Dr. Steven Choi

Dr. Steven Choi is an immigrant who came to America with $50 in his pocket and washed dishes to put himself through school and earn a Ph.D.

A passionate and experienced educator, Dr. Choi has taught at USC, UCI, California State University, Los Angeles, Saddleback College, as well as Coastline Community College.

Steven contributed to Orange County’s education as the founder and director of highly academically successful Dr. Choi’s Academy. For more than a dozen years, the Academy focused on providing tutoring and academic enrichment programs for students. He and his wife, Janie, still run two Irvine Math and Reading Centers for pre-school through 12th grade. Serving on the Irvine Unified School District board, Steven oversaw some of the best performing schools in the nation.

Dr. Steven Choi has a rich history of serving the City of Irvine and the broader communities in Orange County. His advocacy includes serving as an Irvine School Board Member, Irvine City Council, the Mayor of Irvine, and the larger Orange County community as a State Assemblyman.

While serving on the Irvine for over a decade and as Irvine City Mayor, Dr. Choi oversaw one of the safest cities in the county and received national recognition for best place to raise a family while serving as mayor. . Under his leadership, he used audits to ferret out waste and corruption, and started initiatives to create better paying jobs for the community. He implemented a non-toxic pesticide program in Irivne's public open spaces, parks, and green belts.

In the Assembly, Dr. Choi has led efforts to improve the quality of Orange County Schools, protect Proposition 13 and keep taxes down, tackle the homeless problem, and reduce the cost of health care.

DEDICATED & PROVEN LEADER

Since serving in public office, Dr. Steven Choi has successfully secured $1,000,000 in state funds for local Easter Seals in Irvine to expand its services. Dr. Choi has also consistently fought against the gas tax SB1 that dramatically increased fuel prices on California's hard-working families and will continues to fight against any new taxes as well as introducing AB 1596 to pay off $19.3 billion Federal debt to reduce interest payments and to prevent unemployment tax hikes to employers.

EXPOSING WASTEFUL SPENDING

A long-time taxpayer watchdog, Steven, as Mayor of Irvine took on the political establishment and demanded a forensic audit of the OC Great Park's expenditures to investigate the wasteful spending of over $251 million.

OPPOSES NEW TAXES

Steven has consistently fought against the gas tax SB1 that dramatically increased fuel prices on California's hard-working families and will continues to fight against any new taxes.

EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION

As an Irvine Unified School District Trustee Steven oversaw some of the nation's top public schools. Steven served as Vice Chair of the Higher Ed Committee of the State Assembly. Having taught at both UCI and USC, Steven knows how to get the most out of our schools and hold them accountable.

REVIVING THE ECONOMY

Steven's pro-business record has earned him the "Guardian of Small Business Award" from California's voice of small business - the NFIB. Dr. Steven Choi has worked hard to foster a thriving business environment to help Orange County businesses expand and grow jobs. Steven led the effort on several tax credit bills for small businesses for COVID-19 expenses.