She Picked Apples, Escaped Abuse, and Just Became Irvine’s First Latina Councilmember—Meet Betty Martinez Franco
Betty Martinez-Franco has officially made history in Orange County. Projected to win Irvine’s special election for District 5, she is set to become the city’s first Latina councilmember—a milestone that marks not just a personal triumph, but a win for community representation.
“I still have imposter syndrome,” Martinez-Franco told ABC7, just hours after unofficial results showed her leading by over 7 percentage points. As of April 16, she held nearly 49% of the vote, according to Voice of OC. Her closest opponent, former councilmember Anthony Kuo, trailed behind with 41%, while Dana Cornelius came in a distant third.
The Road to Becoming the First Latina Councilmember Was Anything But Easy
Martinez-Franco’s journey began in Monterrey, Mexico. She immigrated to the U.S. more than 30 years ago, initially undocumented, with her then-husband. Her early years in the country were marked by hardship, picking apples in Washington State and later escaping an abusive relationship as a single mother of two.
“I was left to raise my two daughters as a single mom in a country that wasn’t my own,” she told ABC7. After finding shelter and eventually permanent housing in Irvine through the nonprofit Human Options, she worked as a housekeeper and childcare provider while rebuilding her life.
From Survivor to Scholar to the First Latina Councilmember
Determined to create a better life for her daughters, Martinez-Franco returned to school, starting at Orange Coast College and eventually earning a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Cal State Fullerton. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she pursued a Master’s degree in Public Administration at the University of Southern California (USC), motivated by the impact of local government on vulnerable communities.
She now owns a multicultural public relations agency. She serves on Irvine’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the National Latina Business Women Association-LA. As ABC7 reported, her campaign focused on affordable housing, reducing traffic, and supporting small businesses.
Irvine’s First Latina Councilmember Represents a Changing Political Landscape
Martinez-Franco’s victory also shifts Irvine’s political makeup. According to Voice of OC, her win gives Democrats a four-person majority on the city council. Local Democratic Party Chair Florice Hoffman praised the win, noting that “voters wanted to reject big money influence.”
Martinez-Franco’s campaign was largely funded by small-dollar donations and supported by Unite Here Local 11, a union representing hospitality workers. Meanwhile, Kuo’s campaign received significant funding from special interest groups, such as the Lincoln Club, and donors from the fast-food industry.
What Comes Next for Irvine’s First Latina Councilmember?
Martinez-Franco says she plans to prioritize public safety, cost of living, and traffic concerns. She’s also a strong advocate for a veterans cemetery at the Great Park. She wants to bring more small businesses to Irvine through partnerships with ethnic chambers of commerce, as reported by The Orange County Register.
“This is the most exciting thing that has ever happened in my life,” she said.
And when she gets sworn in, her daughters and grandchildren will be there to witness the moment. A full-circle chapter for someone who once picked apples and now picks policy.
“You just lost yourself after domestic violence, and you are picking up the pieces of you,” her mother told her. “And you are turning whole.”
Martinez-Franco has not just made history—she’s reclaiming it.
