By Forrest Lee, Communications Coordinator
It was a ceremony fit for a queen.
Farrah Khan, the first Muslim and first person of color to be elected to the Irvine City Council, was officially sworn in Tuesday night at the Irvine Civic Center before a festive crowd roaring its approval each time her name was called.
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“It’s so exciting,” Khan said.
Khan was embraced and congratulated by a host of family members, friends and supporters who gathered following the ceremony in the packed chambers of the Irvine City Council. Khan was sworn in by Judge Halim Dhanidina, the first Muslim judge in the state of California. Dhanidina serves as an associate justice for the Court of Appeals in Los Angeles.
Khan finished first in a field of 12 candidates during the November election. She prevailed after failing to earn the nomination during the City Council race in 2016, when she finished fourth in a field of 11.
“The first time I think I was a little naïve because when you’re running for (office) you have a group of supporters and they’re constantly telling you how great you are doing and everyone’s voting for you and you’ve got all of the support,” said Khan, who has lived in Irvine for almost 15 years with her husband, Imran, a chef. The couple has four boys. “So, in your head you’re thinking you do have all of the support. And then, come election night, you learn, ‘No I don’t have all of the support.’ You learn from that.”
Khan, a businesswoman and executive director of Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council, believes her people skills will help her serve her constituents well.
“I don’t have to worry about the political games or having these goals that I have to achieve,” said Khan, who has been active in Irvine for years as a PTA president, among her numerous community duties. “As life goes on, if I’m needed somewhere I’ll be there. I won’t fail (and) I’ll never give up.