Meet the Kleiman Family

Photography Credit: Adrienne Encinias Photography

Lauren and Marc Kleiman may have grown up on opposite coasts, but their shared love for Newport Beach and the community they call home is at the center of their lives. Inspired by the birth of their son, Pierce, 13 years ago, they chose the beautiful community of Corona del Mar as the perfect place for their family. 

“We were living in Irvine until our son was born, then we made the intentional choice to raise our family in Newport, specifically Corona del Mar,” Lauren recalled. “We rented in a few different CDM neighborhoods (Harbor View Hills South and Irvine Terrace) before buying a starter home in Sailhouse Lofts, and then landed our dream home in Cameo, right before the pandemic.”

Lauren was born and raised in New York along with her older sister. She moved to the golden shores of Malibu and the West Coast to study business at Pepperdine University. Taking things to the next level, she graduated from Pepperdine Law School. Marc was born and raised in the Bay Area, in Hillsborough and San Mateo. Carrying his love for sports into higher education, he played football at St. Mary’s College. He received his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law.  

Law & Love 

Love and the law came together when the duo met on the last night of the bar exam in 2003, and they’ve been together ever since. They will celebrate their 16th wedding anniversary this month. Their journey together has been filled with a shared vision of service and giving back to the community they call home. 

This includes Lauren’s recent election as Mayor of Newport Beach. She was elected to the City Council in 2022, representing District 6, which includes Corona del Mar.

Professional Life

“I never had political aspirations of any kind,” Lauren explained. “I went to law school as a foundation for business, spending my time interning in the entertainment industry, for companies like DreamWorks, Bunim Murray/MTV, and talent agencies, with the goal of working in business affairs after law school. Life had a different plan.”

Instead, after passing the bar exam, she worked for small firms handling copyright and trademark litigation, and then land-use law. The Kleimans were both working at companies headquartered in Orange County. When offered an in-house position at KB Home, she worked in land development until taking time off to welcome their son. During that time, she obtained her broker's license. 

Community Involvement & Giving Back

A desire to become more involved in the Newport Beach community led to training in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and the Citizen's Police Academy. Looking for a deeper commitment, she began applying to several board and commission vacancies.

“I didn't get selected for the Planning Commission until my second try, but, in the meantime, I took a seat on the City's Aviation Committee,” Lauren said. “It was an incredible learning opportunity and a trial-by-fire civic engagement experience.” Afterward, she was appointed to the Planning Commission and became the first woman to chair it in nearly 30 years.

During the pandemic, she felt compelled to run for City Council. “I wanted to protect the quality of life we cherish in Newport, and that's exactly what I've done since I got elected; I've been an unrelenting advocate for public safety and the betterment of the community,” she said. Deeply dedicated to the community and driven to get things done, she also helped launch the Newport Beach Foundation's Distinguished Citizen Program, the Parent Education Series, and its High School Scholarship Program as a founding board member.

Marc shares her passion for being involved in their beloved community and giving back. He draws on his experience as a football player while coaching their son’s flag football team.

Life outside of Work 

The Kleimans have a passion for traveling, especially to Europe. Spain is one of their favorites. 

“We love to eat our way through any city we’re visiting,” they laughed. At home, Haute Cakes pancakes are a favorite. The family cherishes hikes, or going for walks to the beach or in the village of CdM. They appreciate time spent dining out with family and friends in Crystal Cove and at Fashion Island. Their greatest happiness lies in the simple moments.

“Spending time with family is our greatest joy,” they shared. “Friday nights on the flag football field, watching Pierce on the field. Weekends are spent on the sidelines as a soccer mom and soccer dad.” Pierce is in his last year at Harbor Day and will attend Corona del Mar High School next year. 

Message to the Community

“I may not have grown up in Newport, but no one is more committed to protecting our quality of life and safety for our residents. I enjoy digging into each issue and problem-solving, by putting in the time to research, comparing our approach to other jurisdictions' practices, and working toward measurable outcomes for accountability,” Lauren said. “I have also really enjoyed partnering with the police and fire departments and getting to engage with the community.”

 Follow Mayor Kleiman on Instagram: lauren4newport