LAWRENCE ALAN AGRAN
Councilman, city of Irvine
chairman, Orange County Great Park Corp.
Born in Chicago, Feb. 2, 1945
Lives in Irvine (University Park)
King of Irvine politics, driving force behind city’s ambitious Great Park project.
Masterful strategist who has built Demo-cratic enclave in Re-publican territory. Laud-ed as can-do visionary by some, criticized as prickly, partisan by others.
On City Council, of-ten as mayor, since 1978 (with eight-year interlude in ’90s). In November, voters reaffirmed Agran, his three-member council majority (with ally Sukhee Kang becoming city’s first Korean-American mayor). Foes Christina Shea, Steven Choi make up minority.
Plans for Great Park, which Agran often compares to New York’s Central Park, ready to leave drawing board. Contentious search for permanent park CEO ended with promotion of former Bay Area executive Michael Ellzey. Recently approved construction plan projected to create “hundreds” of jobs in next 12 months, “thousands” later. First $40 million, three-year phase calls for soccer fields, lake, working farm, landscaping, some runway removal at former Marine air base.
Critics cite millions already spent on marketing, consultants with little to show besides balloon, skating rink. Consultant estimate of park’s price tag revised upward, to $1.4 billion. Real estate crash has stalled Lennar’s housing, commercial projects at park, slowed projected tax-revenue stream (see OC 50ers John Jaffe, Emile Haddad). Agran eyeing federal stimulus money.
Elsewhere, Agran envisions Jamboree Road corridor as urban center, with eco-friendly buildings, more bike, pedestrian access, mass transit.
Political strategist: controversial (and effective) campaign mailers, some resembling newspapers. Government activist: led efforts on childcare, affordable housing, recycling, open space preservation that have won Irvine national recognition. Negotiated often with powerful Irvine Company (see OC 50er Don Bren.) Ran for president in 1992 Democratic primary.
Majored in history, economics, graduated Phi Beta Kappa from UC Berkeley, 1966; graduated with honors from Harvard Law School, 1969.
Served as legal counsel to state Senate Committee on Health and Welfare. Taught at UCLA School of Law, UC Irvine’s Merage School of Business. During 1990s led nonprofits,Local Elected Officials Project, Center for Innovative Diplomacy, CityVote.
Goes by Larry. Wife, Phyllis, pediatrician. Son, Irvine lawyer Ken Agran.
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Rick Reiff
JAMES LOUIS DOTI
President, Chapman University
Born in Chicago, Sept. 26, 1946
Lives in Villa Park
Taking Chapman to new heights, literally,planted school’s flag atop Antarctica’s 16,000-foot Mount Vinson in February.
Runs well-funded private university with 5,700 students. Strong business ties fuel school. Doti’s forged bonds with executives, philanthropists, who’ve become major supporters.
Trustees include OC 50ers Paul Folino, alums George Argyros and Loretta Sanchez, Hadi Makarechian, Jim Mazzo.
Counts $280 million endowment. Hopes to raise more for filmmakers’ village, science building, performing arts center, new Irvine satellite campus. Re-cently bought $22 million Irvine Spectrum building for administrative offices, classrooms.
Saw Argyros School of Business rank No. 46 on BusinessWeek list. Tough economy has boosted MBA enrollment 29% to 253 students as some seek education in downturn.
Accepting 5% more undergraduate students, hedge against financial hardship dropouts.
Serves on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s economic advisory council.
Born in Chicago’s Little Italy to immigrant parents. Mom made hats, dad sold shoes. Undergrad degree from University of Illi-nois, economics doctorate from University
of Chicago, trained under Milton Friedman, George Stigler. Joined Chapman
faculty in 1974. Dean of business school, 1985.
Cohosts “Dialogue with Doti and Dodge” interview show on KOCE-TV. Guests have included Salman Rushdie, Mitt Romney, Kenneth Starr, Maria Shriver, local executives.
Fitness buff climbing seven of tallest mountains. Tackled Argentina’s Mount Acon-cagua, Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, Russia’s Mount Elbrus, Antarctica’s peak.
Runs marathons, qualified for fourth time for Boston Marathon. Listens to books on iPod on 20-mile weekend practice runs. Enjoys cooking, watching Food Network. Favorite show: “Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger.”
Wife, Lynne, Chapman economics professor, holds Stone Professorship in Economics. Couple has two grown children, Adam, Cara. Grandfather. Adopted dog from German Shepherd Rescue.
Julie Leupold
Michael Vincent Drake
Chancellor
University of California, Irvine
Born in New York, July 9, 1950
Lives in Irvine
Heads county’s most influential university, set to see big milestone this year.
In August, University of California, Irvine, School of Law set to open. Law school, major goal of Drake’s since he arrived in 2005, is first public law school in California in 40 years.
Other projects: five-story engineering, soc-ial, behavioral sciences buildings; six-story Bren Hall; renovating Rowland Hall; biological sciences building.
Just saw opening of $556 million University Hospital at UCI Medical Center, teaching hospital in Orange. Took first patients in March. Looking for hospital chief executive to replace Maureen Zehntner, who retired last month.
Fifth leader in university’s 44 years.
Gets high marks for handling of hospital, campus expansion. Had share of challenges: 2005 blowup of UCI Medical Center’s liver transplant program, rough 2007 early days for law school, with hiring, dismissal, rehiring of founding dean, Erwin Chemerinsky.
Business, legal, philanthropic support continuing in tough economy. Last year, school raised record $130 million in donations.
Served as vice president of health affairs for UC system for five years before taking chancellor’s job. Responsibilities included oversight of UC health sciences academic, research programs.
Associated with UC for more than 30 years, first as medical student. Holds two undergraduate degrees: bachelor’s in African, African-American studies from Stanford; medical school at UC San Francisco. Ophthalmologist by training.
Belongs to several national scientific, scholarly societies. Participated in task force trying to fix problems at Martin Luther King Jr./Drew Medical Center in L.A.
Father also a physician. Grew up in Englewood, N.J. Later moved to Sacramento. Wife, Brenda, is public interest lawyer, foundation executive who he counts as key adviser. Two adult sons (one’s a lawyer, other an aspiring business school student).
Couple has busy schedule: events 300 days out of year. Fans of Formula 1 open-wheel racing. Once visited Monaco to watch races. Took road trip to Baseball Hall of Fame with kids. Chancellor enjoys cycling (rides Italian-made, carbon frame bike), travel, music, track and field, stargazing.
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Vita Reed
MILTON ANDREW GORDON
President
California State University, Fullerton
Born in Chicago, May 25, 1935
Lives in Fullerton
Runs county’s largest school by students, seeing $660,000 boost from stimulus plan.
Lion’s share going to Vietnamese language program, math, science teaching center. Ear-mark thanks to Repub-lican Rep. Ed Royce, CSUF alum. Democrat Loretta Sanchez got $190,000 for campus childhood obesity prevention program.
Federal money adds to fundraising efforts,$50 million in past few years, $34 million plus from alum Steven Mihaylo. Money funds professors, programs, new $88 million business school building that opened in fall with Mihaylo name.
Largest accredited business school in California, fourth largest in country. Saw 5% bump in MBA program.
Renamed performing arts center for Joseph A. W. Clayes III, after $5 million donation.
Student housing project set for 2011 completion. Funded by CSU bonds backed by student housing fees.
Debated need for 7-year-old Irvine satellite campus after it looked like CSUF would get boot from former El Toro Marine base being converted to Great Park. Lennar, university reached lease deal through August 2010.
Gordon’s had to cut undergrad enrollment amid state budget crisis.
Grew up few blocks from old Comiskey Park in Chicago’s rough South Side. Saw Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson play. University’s No. 1 nationally ranked Titan team source of pride for longtime baseball fan.
Father worked for old Santa Fe railroad, mother, high school graduate, pushed three kids to college. Gordon taught kindergarten while working on doctorate in Illinois.
On several academic, nonprofit boards, including chairing Hispanic Association of Committee on International Education, American Association of Colleges and Universities Committee on International Education, Orange County Workforce Investment Board, Orange County Business Council, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, California Council on Science and Technology, BIOCOM, World Affairs Council Board of Trustees.
Doctorate in mathematics from Illinois Institute of Technology.
Wife, Margaret Faulwell Gordon, dean of College of Extended and International Education at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Couple lives at El Dorado Ranch, hillside Fullerton estate once home to city pioneer C. Stanley Chapman Sr., donated to CSU in 1989. Has blended family of grown sons: Patrick, Vincent, Michael, three grandchildren. Enjoys traveling, dining out, walking, movies, photography, sports.
Julie Leupold
CURTIS LAYNE PRINGLE
Mayor, city of Anaheim
Born in Emmetsburg, Iowa, June 27, 1959
Lives in Anaheim
Entering final stretch of eventful two terms as mayor of Orange County’s “original” city. Could remain in government service, but brushes off idea he’d run for another office after term-limit at end of 2010.
Trying to keep alive ambitious redevelopment plans hit hard by real estate crash. Some high-rise condos opening as apartments instead, other projects on hold (see OC 50ers John Jaffe, Emile Haddad.)
Resort district still expanding with billion-dollar Disney’s Cali-fornia Adventure do-over (see OC 50er Ed Grier). GardenWalk mall has opened to light crowds. City Council recently approved tax incentives for luxury hotel project.
Action on transportation front, where well-connected Pringle (seats on OC Transporta-tion Authority, California High Speed Rail Authority, California-Nevada Super Speed Train Commission) is championing Anaheim as hub. Design bids being accepted for city, OCTA sponsored Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center on 15 acres near Angel Stadium of Anaheim.
Also on drawing board: bullet train from Anaheim to L.A., another to Las Vegas with desert airport stops; millions (or billions) of state and/or federal dollars required. Usually lauded by fellow Republicans for business friendly policies, but idea of federal stimulus funds for Vegas “high roller” train assailed by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, other budget hawks. Pringle defends project as job-creator, cutting edge.
Win some, lose some in sports: Lost to Arte Moreno in Angels name-change battle. City dropped appeals after second court upheld putting “Los Angeles” before and “Anaheim” after in baseball team name. Millions in legal fees for both sides.
Helped lure men’s Olympic gold medal volleyball team to Anaheim, now adding women’s team. Has solidified relations with Anaheim Ducks hockey team. Has courted NBA and NFL teams to come to Anaheim.
Served four terms in Assembly, including 11 months as Speaker in 1996. Pragmatic conservative: friends include moderate Re-publican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dem-ocrats former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.
Operates government consulting firm Curt Pringle & Associates. Bachelor’s in business, master’s in public administration from Cal State Long Beach.
Wife, Alexis, daughter, Katie, son, Kyle, daughter-in-law, Sarah.
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Rick Reiff
LORETTA LYDIA SANCHEZ
47th District of California
U.S. House of Representatives
Born in Lynwood, Jan. 7, 1960
Lives in Garden Grove
Orange County’s most powerful Democrat, growing seniority on Capitol Hill.
This year may clarify political plans: has considered running for California governor in 2010 or for U.S. Senate should one open up. But relishes life as congresswoman.
Speculation has her facing stiff challenge from GOP Assemb-lyman Van Tran next time in district that includes Little Saigon. But Sanchez has cultivated base: Co-chairs Congressional Caucus on Vietnam, opposes the U.S increasing non-humanitarian aid to Vietnam unless Wash-ington “secures significant civil and political liberties for the country’s citizens.”
Chairwoman of House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counter Terrorism, key post in dealing with terrorism, immigration, violence in Mexico. Recently toured border with Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napoli-tano. Pushed for more resources to curb arms, currency smuggling.
Ranking woman of House Armed Services Committee. Visited Afghanistan in December.
Independent streak. Opposed Iraq War, but works for local defense contracts. Calls herself “fiscal conservative.” Member of moderate Blue Dog Democrats, New Democrat Coalition, Women’s Congressional Caucus. Voted for Obama stimulus package, which all five GOP reps from OC opposed.
With Rep. Linda Sanchez (south Los Angeles County), Congress’ first “sister act.” They came out with book last year, “Dream in Color,” forward by Nancy Pelosi. Linda more liberal, backed Obama. Loretta supported Hillary Clinton.
Energetic, photogenic, flirtatious; frequent TV interviews. Loves the cameras,as usual, staked out railing for a presidential handshake at State of the Union, was near carpet for Obama inaugural.
Symbol of county’s growing ethnic, political diversity. Deposed “B-1” Bob Dornan in 1996. GOP hasn’t come close since, despite efforts. Won seventh term last fall.
Touts finance, business background. Was financial manager with Orange County Transportation Authority, assistant VP at Fieldman Rolapp & Associates, associate at Booz Allen Hamilton. Also ran consulting practice.
Trustee (along with OC 50er George Argyros) of her alma mater, Chapman University, where she earned economics bachelor’s, was voted Business Student of the Year. Business master’s from American University. Past president, National Society of Hispanic MBAs.
Single. Spicy Christmas cards an annual Capitol Hill hit; most recent one featured her in tank top on a Harley (with her cat Gretzky, of course).
Rick Reiff
RICHARD “RICK” DUANE WARREN
Pastor
Saddleback Valley Community Church
Born in San Jose, Jan. 28, 1954
Lives in Trabuco Canyon
Prominent leader of 120-acre Lake Forest Christian megachurch, called on by executives, presidents, presidential hopefuls. Debut on OC 50.
Church averages 22,000 attendees per week. Makes headlines. Mentors, leads other pastors. Best selling author. Backs notion of marriage as between man, woman. Earlier this month went on “Larry King Live” apologizing for comments about gay marriage.
Rocketed to national stage in 2002, thanks in part to book “The Purpose Driven Life.” Sold more than 30 million copies, boosted church attendance. Written six books total.
Listed among “100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine, “15 People Who Make America Great,” by Newsweek. Preached to Katrina evacuees at Astrodome. Has appeared on “Oprah,” “Larry King,” “Hannity & Colmes,” “The Colbert Report,” among others.
Sought by politicians, corporate leaders for religious, moral, ethical guidance. Convened with Rupert Murdoch, Jack Welch, Bill Gates. One of President George W. Bush’s spiritual advisers. Delivered President Obama’s inauguration invocation.
Last year, hosted presidential candidates Obama, John McCain in unique Civil Forum.
Keys on traditional evangelical issues of opposing abortion, embryonic stem cell research. Widened ministry to address other issues: poverty, AIDS/HIV in Africa.
Wife, Kay, executive director of church, initiated, helps lead AIDS ministry in Africa. Travels, addresses poverty, disease. Cancer survivor.
Evangelicals split on Warren. Some say he could lead next generation. Others don’t like his preaching style, church size.
Teaches scripture in everyday language. Casual dress, sometimes preaches barefoot. Church welcomes “come as you are” attire. Choir rocks to Christian music.
Brings together churches, businesses, governments through his Peace initiative. Founded Pastors.com, forum for pastors, offers sermons. Uses all forms of media to deliver message.
Entrepreneur as much as spiritual leader. Fan of Peter Drucker’s management style. Drucker once noted: “Saddleback Church is the Bell Laboratories of Christianity.” Forbes called Saddleback Google or Starbucks of churches.
This year, launched with Readers Digest The Purpose Driven Connection including quarterly magazine, Web site dubbed Facebook for Christians.
Works from a 50,000-square-foot church administration building. Arrived in OC at 26, out of Fort Worth, Texas, seminary school with wife, baby, little money.
Founded Saddleback in 1980, congregation met at Trabuco Hills High School. Bought 72 acres from follower OC 50er William Lyon in 1987 for $3.5 million, acquired 40 more acres later. In 1989, proposed giant church. Battled opposition to development of rural area.
In 2000s, fought IRS, won. Was billed $20,000 for deducting home expenses through “parsonage allowance.” New legislation clarified law, allowing clergy to deduct certain expenses.
Gives away 90% of income to Acts of Mercy and Global Peace Fund. Lives in modest, four-bedroom Trabuco Canyon home.
Bachelor’s from California Baptist University. Masters of divinity, Southwestern Theological Seminary. Doctor of ministry, Fuller Theological Seminary.
Three grown children, Amy, Josh, Matthew. Grandfather.
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Sherri Cruz
