Oh, what a difference. The San Diego County city of Del Mar quietly reached a preliminary agreement with the state last week to buy the Del Mar fairgrounds and its marquee race track—400 acres of prime real estate—for $120 million, or a mere $300,000 an acre. And Costa Mesa thought it was getting a deal with its endangered plan to team with a private operator to buy the state’s 150-acre OC Fair & Event Center for $96 million, or $640,000 an acre. (Costa Mesa wouldn’t get thoroughbreds, either, just an angry equestrian club.) The Insider is told that Del Mar officials watched—and learned what not to do from—the rancor in OC. Moreover, Del Mar’s deal has had a champion in the Legislature, state Sen. Christine Kehoe, while OC’s state lawmakers have been peripheral to the Costa Mesa proceedings … Former Bell Police Chief Randy Adams, one of those under investigation in the city’s pay scandals, applied for the vacant OC sheriff’s position two years ago and made it to the final 10 for an interview. Supe John Moorlach recalls Adams, then police chief of Glendale, as a “policeman’s policeman. To see his sudden and swift fall from grace is heart-rending. Like I often say, ‘Greed blinds’” …
The UCI Medal Awards gala drew more than 600 and raised $1.3 million. Allergan CEO David Pyott, a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, was the first honoree to accept his award wearing a kilt …
Meg Whitman and Carly Fiorina don’t have OC’s fundraising ATM to themselves. Barbara Boxer made recent stops in South County, including a Laguna Niguel event at the home of Masimo’s Joe Kiani with veep Joe Biden that raised $200,000. Jerry Brown took in $400,000 at the Newport Beach law offices of trial lawyer Mark Robinson …
Bill Clinton stumps for U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez this week as many national names take sides in her heated congressional race against OC Assemblyman Van Tran …
On Nov. 7 Sanchez (by then either re-elected or a lame duck) will emcee a Democratic Foundation of OC dinner honoring U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein …
EE RR moderates a “no-holds-barred” Pre-Election Roundtable that includes OC Democratic Party Chairman Frank Barbaro, OC Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh and Tustin Mayor Jerry Amante Thursday at the Costa Mesa Hilton. More info at www.occities.org …
The Glenn and Mindy Stearns-hosted “Life Changing Lives” gala netted nearly $500,000 for several charities; the bevy of celebs in attendance included Michael Imperioli (lead of the new TV series “Detroit 1-8-7”) and five other former “Sopranos” cast members …
OC Press Club directors Bill Rams and Kedric Francis figured out a new way to make this column—they became fathers two days apart at Hoag. Charli Rose Rams arrived to Kim and PR consultant Bill, and Otis K. Francis arrived to Elaina and Riviera Editor Kedric.
