Republican Second District Supe John Moorlach isn’t just opposed to Democrat (and arguable favorite) Tom Umberg’s bid for the open First District supe seat, he’s really opposed: “Don’t we already have a supervisor who lives in Villa Park?” (Bill Campbell, Third District.) Moorlach is still bristling at being called a “political hack” by Umberg during Moorlach’s unsuccessful challenge to treasurer “Bankruptcy” Bob Citron in 1994. “I’ve only run for two paid elected positions. How many has he run for? Which one of us is the ‘hack?'” Moorlach added that “with all the fun I’m having” with the sheriff deputies union over pension and benefit issues (see Viewpoint, page 43), “isn’t it great to know that they’ve endorsed him?” Umberg responded like a front-runner: “I look forward to building consensus with John on the board for the benefit of all of the residents of Orange County.” But Umberg also noted, “He’s not going to invite me to dinner, apparently” …
Tutto Mare in Fashion Island, once the Thursday night place to be, was closing down this past weekend after 18 years. No replacement yet. Tutto Mare’s parent,Anwar Soliman’s Spectrum Restaurant Group, which also operates Prego, National Sports Grill and Spoons,filed for Chapter 11 in September …
More from our interview with Donald Bren: Although he has certainly benefited from the housing boom of recent years, The Irvine Company chief is critical of “loose lending policies” that have set the stage for an industry correction. “You can make a loan on your home, buy a suit of clothes and borrow on your automobile, fund junior’s college education, and put some money in your pocket and go to Las Vegas. And there are many folks out there that have done that over the last five years, two or three times.” Despite recent tightening by the Fed, “they’re still doing it,” added a “surprised” Bren. As for his own borrowing, Bren boasted that TIC is one of only three real estate companies with an A credit rating, owing in large part to its low debt …
It sounded like Bren was complimenting P RR’s new close-cropped hairstyle until he added, “As a kid I used to get a haircut like that for a quarter” …
See page 1 for Bren’s economic outlook, page 43 for EE RR’s 2007 predictions …
A big night for KOCE at the Hilton L.A./Universal City on Jan. 27: Ed Arnold (and the Dodgers’ Vin Scully) get lifetime achievement awards from the Radio and Television News Association, and David Nazar and Maria Hall Brown pick up Golden Mikes …
Media deal: Will Swaim adopted Mel Rogers’ old Siamese cat …
One more makes a foursome: The Insider previously mentioned the shared name of Pacific Life’s incoming CEO and Rutan & Tucker’s labor group chief. Now it’s been reminded of another prominent Jim Morris in OC,the GM of Western Digital’s notebook storage unit …
New OCBJ arrival: Johanna, to Sierra and Chase Campbell …
Radio personality Dennis Prager addresses the World Affairs Council of OC and Jewish Community Forum on Feb. 18 at Chapman U. Call (949) 253-5751.
