Kathy Tavoularis loves politics, but she never wanted to run for office. Her friends and family would encourage her to consider public service, but she would usually just brush it off and say she’s just an informed voter. Nothing more.

When her only brother died last October, her mindset changed.

“My brother was a high school teacher at Orange High School for 18 years,” Tavoularis told The Panther, tears brimming in her eyes. “He gave so much to the City of Orange. He’s given us so much. I decided it’s time to give back.”

In response to her brother’s unexpected death and reflecting on his service as a teacher, tennis coach and devoted volunteer for the City of Orange and the Republican Party — as described in a letter from former President Donald Trump’s administration — Tavoularis decided to finally run for office.

After former Orange City Council member Mike Alvarez resigned March 8, Tavoularis decided to apply to fill the vacant District 3 seat. The council voted 4-2 April 13 to appoint Tavoularis over six other applicants, including two who originally ran for the position in November. Tavoularis will serve until November 2022, when the seat will be up for grabs again.

“Whether it’s for 17 months or four years, I’m happy to serve my city,” Tavoularis said.

John Russo, who also applied for the District 3 appointment, lost to Alvarez in the 2020 race. Russo was one of the two residents to file an election challenge against Alvarez, which resulted in a judge ruling for Alvarez’s resignation. 

Russo expressed concern about an appointment months ago, worried the council could possibly choose a less qualified candidate instead of hosting a special election. In the midst of his election challenge proceedings, Russo explained in an interview with The Panther Feb. 9 that he was already thinking about who would fill Alvarez’s not-yet-vacant seat.

“(The judge) could potentially leave (the vacancy replacement) up to our city council’s discretion, which would not allow for the best interest of the city,” Russo said Feb. 9. “The city council may try to appoint one of their friends.”

Russo’s prediction may have proven correct. District 2 council member Jon Dumitru and other council members expressed a long-standing history and friendship with Tavoularis.

“I am looking forward to working with Ms. Tavoularis and tackling numerous issues that are facing the city,” Dumitru wrote in an email to The Panther. “I have known Ms. Tavoularis and her family for around 20 years, and she is a dedicated member of our community with over 35 years of residency within the City of Orange and specifically in District 3.”  

Although some argue that a strong relationship between Tavoularis and the council would ensure that she was the right candidate for the job, others voiced their suspicion.

Caroline Alatorre — the second runner-up in the 2020 District 2 Orange City Council election who gained 19.49% of the vote — expressed clear disappointment and skepticism of the appointment on Tavoularis’ own Facebook announcement post.

“What exactly are your qualifications to have earned that appointment?” Alatorre wrote. “Funny, a lot of us have never heard of you. Disappointed in the bestie-OC GOP popularity contest appointment rather than our council having the dignity and spine to appoint who’d be the next runner up or holding a special election to honor what we, the residents, want. It should’ve been someone whose (sic) actually put in the work to run for office.”

Tavoularis has been involved in government relations, political strategies, advocacy, event management and public relations since 2005. She has worked for various political organizations, including the Republican Party of Orange County, the Republican National Convention, the California Republican Party, the Greater Irvine Chamber of Commerce and the Orange County Auditor-Controller.

Council members Arianna Barrios and Ana Gutierrez both voted against Tavoularis’ appointment, instead vocalizing the desire for a special election to occur this November. Barrios told The Panther her decision was rooted in the lack of transparency shown by the council, rather than direct opposition against Tavoularis herself.

“Orange residents had no opportunity to review potential applicants or their qualifications prior to the orchestrated appointment,” Barrios wrote in an email to The Panther. “There was not debate about the qualifications of all who applied, nor was there even vigorous discussion about the selection process. At a time when Americans across the country are having serious conversations about voter suppression and our democratic rights as citizens, that such a brazen act should be undertaken to disenfranchise voters in the City of Orange is simply unthinkable.”

Russo did not comment on Tavoularis’ appointment other than to congratulate her. However, at the April 13 meeting, he gave a public comment encouraging the council to either appoint him or to call a special election.

After watching the meeting, Alvarez said he was pleasantly surprised and praised the council’s decision.

“I was curious to see what the council was going to do,” Alvarez told The Panther. “I was happy to see Kathy’s appointment. That was a nice surprise and a brilliant move by the city council … She is highly educated, she has a high degree of knowledge and experience in government and she has the personality of being approachable to the people of her hometown.”

Even Tavoularis herself was taken aback by the decision, she said.

“I thought at the end of the night we would know if it was an election or if it was an appointment, and I would have to come back in a few weeks for another meeting,” Tavoularis said. “I was wearing a mask, but I think my jaw dropped because of the shock that I didn't expect anybody’s name to be mentioned, and then it was my name.”

Although most public comments urged the council to consider a special election, the members decided on an appointment to save both time and money. A special election — which by state law couldn't occur until this November — would cost the city approximately $150,000, since there is no general election this year.

Remaining public comments backed both Russo, an Orange County Unified School District employee, and Alison Martin, a government affairs professional, for the seat. No public comments from April 13 supported Tavoularis or any of the four other individuals who applied for potential appointment.

Additionally, no other individuals were discussed for appointment during the April 13 city council meeting.

Tavoularis will attend her first city council meeting May 11.

“A lot of my brother’s students called me and were really happy and said they want to help honor him in Orange,” Tavoularis said. “That’s the reason I did this. I wanted to honor him and all the things Orange meant to him. Orange is a great city, and I say to the citizens: give me a chance; you may like me.”