Former GOP Assembly Leader Scott Baugh joins Manatt, Phelps & Phillips

Former GOP Assembly Leader Scott Baugh has joined LA-based Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, the lobbying powerhouse co-founded by Democrat bigwig Charles Manatt; Baugh’s working out of Sacramento and OC Joel Slutzky has lost a corporate director but gained a friend in high places. Andrew Card resigned from Odetics affiliate Iteris, a maker of transportation management software, because he’s booked up as George W. Bush’s chief of staff International incident: The recent signing ceremony between Irvine officials and a delegation from sister city T’aoyuen, Taiwan, was going nicely until the visiting mayor expressed his approval for “the new airport” at El Toro. Chong-Yi Chen said he looked forward to using the airstrip in lieu of LAX, provoking nervous laughter from the crowd of about 100. Irvine Mayor Larry Agran diplomatically interjected that he’d brief Chen on Irvine’s position regarding the airport over dinner. It turned out that while touring the planning department earlier in the day, Chen had noticed a plan for the original Marine base on display, and when he inquired about it something got lost in the translation Calling Alan Greenspan: Mag’s Donuts, Chong and Ching Yam’s shop at MacArthur and Bison in Newport Beach, has tacked a quarter onto the price of hot-from-the-oven muffins, the first hike in five years. But they’re still a bargain at $1.25 … Four months pregnant and in front of a Bren Center sellout crowd of 5,400, Silla Decker made two free-throws, two more than hubbie Dwight Decker, at the Chief Executive Roundtable’s halftime shootout benefiting UCI sports. Henry Samueli captained the winning team, then he and Dick Sim presented chancellor Ralph Cicerone and AD Dan Guerrero with a check for $100,000 Corporate coach Ed Merino has noticed a newfound humbleness from youthful techies. They come to your office, he says, and they’re in suits and ties A CHOC Follies rehearsal at South Coast Village Plaza got a surprise guest: Hollywood legend Donald O’Connor, in from Arizona visiting buddy and cast member John Crean. The 75 or so troupers broke into spontaneous applause and a rendition (just learned) of “There’s No Business Like Show Business.” O’Connor sang along. Crean & Co. perform at El Toro on March 30 and 31, benefiting Children’s Hospital. Call 714-532-8690 for tickets Huntington Beach resident Rich Davidson won $200 in merchandise for being the 4 millionth golfer to play a round at 40-year-old Dad Miller Golf Course in Anaheim.