LAWRENCE ALAN AGRAN
Councilman, city of Irvine
chairman, Orange County Great Park Corp.
Born in Chicago, Feb. 2, 1945
Lives in Irvine (University Park)
Resilient politician who has been key player in Irvine’s development as progressive urban village. “Larry” a liberal Democrat who has thrived in Republican territory.
Hailed by supporters as smart, strong-willed visionary, slammed by critics as calculating, vindictive. Tough to beat,his Hometown Voter Guide hugely effective. Accused of exploiting his own election, ethics rules,he says it’s all legal.
Emotions run highest at Agran-led Great Park, sprawling billion-dollar-plus redevelopment of former El Toro Marine base.
Great Park, Agran’s alternative to a proposed commercial airport,which he helped to kill,is being designed by architect Ken Smith for parks, open space, museums. Rides launched on iconic orange helium balloon but recently grounded due to FAA concerns; $14 million being spent to spruce up the launching area.
Critics allege Great Park is squandering funds. Housing, commercial development by Lennar, which would generate tax revenue for public projects, has stalled. Runway demolition has stopped. Contentious search for permanent park chief executive has been suspended until next January,two years after last CEO quit.
Agran pushing for major public transportation center,favors more trains, buses; weekday shuttle service recently started in John Wayne Airport business district and along Jamboree Road.
On Irvine council from 1978 to 1990. Again since 1998 to now, including five terms as mayor. Devotes full time (and then some) to part-time council job.
Government activist: has led efforts on childcare, affordable housing, recycling, open space preservation that have won Irvine national recognition. Has effectively negotiated with powerful Irvine Co. Ran for president in 1992 Democratic primaries.
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.
Wife Phyllis, pediatrician. Son, Irvine lawyer Ken Agran.
,Rick Reiff
JAMES LOUIS DOTI
President, economics professor
Chapman University
Born in Chicago, Sept. 26, 1946
Lives in Villa Park
Mountain climbing economist oversees little university that could.
Private college faced financial crisis in 1975, now boasts OC’s largest endowment at some $260 million, up from $18 million 15 years ago.
Enrollment up 15% to 6,545 in 2008.
Last year, lured Nobel Prize winner Vernon Smith to start Economic Science Institute. Says school could raise $20 million with Smith’s help. Adding more positions, resources. Could add master’s in economic systems design.
Construction boom. Last year opened $41 million, 76,000-square-foot Marion Knott Studios, Dodge Col-lege of Film and Media Arts. Nearing completion of $22 million Erin J. Lastinger Athletics Complex set to open in fall.
Could transform former Villa Park Orchard Packing Plant building into science building. Some want packing plant preserved as historic landmark.
Doti’s strong business ties fuel school. Cultivated 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.
Law school gaining traction after shaky start in 1990s, rejected by American Bar Association, lawsuits from unhappy students. Accepted by ABA before graduating first class; now has nearly 700 students. Started certificate in entertainment law, degree in prosecutorial science. Roger C. Hobbs Institute for Real Estate, Law & Environmental Studies started with $10 million gift from developer Hobbs.
Serves on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Economic Advisory Council beside two of his heroes: Warren Buffett, George Shultz.
Grew up in Chicago’s Little Italy. Mom made hats, dad shoes. Undergraduate degree from University of Illinois, economics master’s from University of Chicago, trained under Milton Friedman, George Stigler. Joined Chapman faculty in 1974. Dean of business school in 1985.
Cohosts “Dialogue with Doti and Dodge” interview show on KOCE-TV. Guests have included Salman Rushdie, second lady Lynne Cheney, local chief executives. One of few to have interviewed Osama bin Laden some years ago.
Fitness buff climbing seven of tallest mountains. Already tackled Argentina’s Mount Aconcagua, Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, Russia’s Mount Elbrus.
Runs Boston Marathon. Listens to books on iPod on 20-mile weekend practice runs. Enjoys cooking, watching Food Network. Favorite shows: “Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger,” “Rachael Ray’s 30 Minute Meals.”
Wife Lynne Doti, Chapman economics professor who holds Stone Professorship in Economics. Couple has two grown children, Adam, Cara. Grandfather. Adopted Roxy, seven-year-old German shepherd mix.
,Jessica Lee
MICHAEL VINCENT DRAKE
Chancellor
University of California, Irvine
Born in New York, July 9, 1950
Lives in Irvine
Hitting stride as UC Irvine chancellor.
Moving along on major project: Donald Bren School of Law, set to open in 2009 as first public law school in California in 40 years.
Other key projects: five-story engineering, social and behavioral sciences buildings, six-story Bren Hall, renovated Rowland Hall, biological sciences building. New programs in nursing science, pharmaceutical sciences, public health.
The biggie: $392 million expansion of UCI Medical Center in Orange,on budget, ahead of schedule. Due to take first patients in 2009.
Fifth leader in university’s 43-year history.
Gets high marks for handling of hospital, campus expansion. Lower marks for uproar over handling of founding dean of law school: highly regarded but provocative scholar Erwin Chemerinsky. Last year, Drake hired then fired him, then hired him back after firestorm in media, academic circles.
Now things moving forward, with notable business, legal, philanthropic support. Irvine Co.’s Donald Bren gave $20 million. Trial lawyer Mark Robinson gave $1 million, as did philanthropist Joan Irvine Smith.
Recently named Maureen Zehntner to permanent chief executive post of teaching hospital earlier this year. Zehntner had been interim chief executive since Ralph Cygan stepped down in 2006.
No stranger to challenges. Shortly after arriving in 2005, had to deal with blowup of UCI Medical Center’s liver transplant program, which closed after regulators pulled certification because of mismanagement, poor care.
Served as vice president of health affairs for UC system for five years before taking chancellor’s job. Re-sponsibilities included oversight of UC health sciences academic, re-search programs.
Associated with UC for more than 30 years, starting as a medical student at UC San Francisco. Holds two undergraduate degrees: bachelor’s in African, African-American studies from Stanford, bachelor’s in medical sciences from UC San Francisco. Ophthalmologist by training.
Belongs to several national scientific, scholarly societies. Participated in a 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 with family. Wife Brenda is public interest lawyer, foundation executive who he counts as key adviser. Two adult sons. Took road trip to Baseball Hall of Fame with them. Enjoys cycling (rides Italian-made bike with lightweight carbon frame), travel, music, track and field, stargazing.
,Vita Reed
MILTON ANDREW GORDON
President
California State University, Fullerton
Born in Chicago, May 25, 1935
Lives in Fullerton
In 2007, marked 17th year as president of biggest campus in Cal State system with 50th anniversary bash. Last year saw events, programs, all designed to elicit support for school.
School still in fundraising infancy. Wants to grow endowment fund, which sits at some $19 million. Early this year, landed $30 million business school gift from alum, Inter-Tel founder Steven Mihaylo. Gift ranks among the largest seen in OC.
CSUF got $4.5 million in 2006 from Mihaylo, who will see name on new $90 million business building, set to open in fall. Additional money set to go to recruit professors, create chairs, offer programs, provide scholarships.
College of Business and Economics is largest accredited business school in Califor-nia, fourth largest in country.
Seen other donations. Entrepreneur, graduate Dan Black gave $4.2 million in 2006. Gift renamed science lab.
CSUF second-largest university in state by students at more than 37,000, up 37% since 1990. Seeing record enrollment, number of degrees offered. More than 10,000 new students arrived in fall.
In past year, hired 93 professors. Wants to hire 100 a year through 2010.
Recruiting challenge: California’s high cost of living. Two affordable-housing developments,University Gables and University Heights,expected to help.
CSUF sits on 236-acre campus with 21 buildings. Along with business school building, $41 million student recreation center set to be done this year.
Looking for growth beyond Fullerton campus. Enrollment at El Toro satellite campus growing, more than 3,000 students. School looking to acquire more space at El Toro.
Grew up few blocks from old Comiskey Park in Chicago’s rough South Side. Saw Satchel Paige, Jackie Robinson play. School’s dynasty Titan team a 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 American Association of Colleges and Universities Committee on International Education. Orange County Workforce Investment Board, Orange County Business Council, Pacific Symphony Orchestra.
Doctorate in mathematics from Illinois Institute of Technology.
Wife, Margaret Faulwell Gordon, dean of colleges of extended, 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. Enjoys traveling, dining out, walking, movies, photography, sports.
,Jessica Lee
CURTIS LAYNE PRINGLE
Mayor, city of Anaheim
Born in Emmetsburg, Iowa, June 27, 1959
Lives in Anaheim
Seasoned politician who champions Anaheim as big-league city.
“Curt” overseeing development boom that has slowed, not stopped, amid housing crash. High-rise homes going up in Platinum Triangle near Angel Stadium. Resort district expanding with billion-dollar California Adventure do-over, thousands of hotel rooms, timeshares in works. GardenWalk mall coming on line.
Pushing for Anaheim to become regional transportation hub, sees city as future check-in point for air travelers who would be whisked on high-speed train to Ontario airport.
Tech-savvy. Has engineered deals providing wireless Internet access throughout city, online City Hall access. Spearheaded business-tax holiday, home improvement fee waiver, Santa Ana river restoration, “green” building initiative.
Has promoted redevelopment without using eminent domain. His “freedom friendly,” pro-business tack has won accolades, created verb in policy circles,”Pringle-ize.”
Critics complain about traffic, noise, blight, crime in some older neighborhoods.
Pragmatic conservative whose friends include Democrats former Assembly speaker Willie Brown, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Backed Rudy Giuliani for president, now John McCain.
Tactical, consensus-building skills being taxed by divided City Council. Recently sided with Disney, Anaheim Business Council against council majority in zoning battle; his side prevailed, defeating attempts to put homes in resort district.
Loves sports, especially those played at Anaheim venues. On great terms with Anaheim Ducks owner, OC 50er Henry Samueli. Icy relations with Angels owner, OC 50er Arte Moreno since battle over renaming the team “Los Angeles.” Cooperation continues at management level between city, baseball team.
Still chasing an NBA franchise.
Member of Orange County Transpor-tation Authority, California High Speed Rail Authority. Served on governor’s commission that recommended ways to deal with growing unfunded liability of public employee benefits, pensions.
Four terms in Assembly, including 11 months as speaker in 1996.
Elected mayor in 2002, easily re-elected in 2006.
Says he won’t seek another political of-fice when term expires in 2010. Expresses little interest in an appointed job. Could focus full attention on his seven-person government consulting firm, Curt Pringle & Associates. Teaches government course at UC Irvine.
Grew up in Garden Grove. Bachelor’s in business, master’s in public administration from Cal State Long Beach.
Wife Alexis, daughter Katie, son Kyle, daughter-in-law Sarah.
,Rick Reiff
LORETTA LYDIA SANCHEZ
47th District of California
U.S. House of Representatives
Born in Lynwood, Jan. 7, 1960
Lives in Garden Grove
Only Democrat in OC congressional delegation, but also its most influential member with her party controlling Congress.
Considering a run for governor in 2010, has opened exploratory committee, People for Loretta 2010.
Angered many South County officials and commuters, but cheered surfers, environmental groups, by supporting legislation aimed at blocking extension of the 241 toll road along edge of San Onofre State Park; Sanchez says she does not oppose the project.
Superdelegate to Democrat presidential convention, has staunchly backed Hillary Clinton, although she opposed Iraq invasion from get-go while Clinton did not. Dismisses then-Illinois lawmaker Barack Obama’s early opposition to the war: “Excuse me, he wasn’t there (in Congress) … He wasn’t under the pressure.”
Sits on House Homeland Security Committee, now chairs Subcommittee
on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism.
Member in Congress of moderate Blue Dog Democrats, New Democrat Coalition, also Women’s Congressional Caucus.
She, Rep. Linda Sanchez (south Los Angeles County) are Congress’ first “sister act.”
Outgoing, photogenic, playful; often tapped for TV interviews. Knows where the cameras are,once again this year got airtime shaking hands, exchanging pleasantries with President Bush at State of the Union message.
Represents part of Little Saigon, has spoken against human rights violations in Vietnam.
Symbol of county’s growing ethnic, political diversity. Deposed “B-1” Bob Dornan in 1996. Hasn’t faced formidable challenger since. Expected to breeze to re-election to seventh term this fall.
Touts finance, business background. Was a financial manager with Orange County Transportation Authority, assistant VP at Fieldman Rollap & Associates, associate at Booz Allen Hamilton. Also had own consulting practice.
Trustee (along with OC 50er George Argyros) of her alma mater, Chapman University, where she earned bachelor’s in economics, was voted Business Student of the Year. Business master’s from American University. Past president, National Society of Hispanic MBAs.
Single. Famous on Capitol Hill for her Christmas card, sometimes spicy, always featuring her cat Gretzky.
,Rick Reiff
HONORABLE MENTION:
WYLIE AITKEN
Partner, Aitken, Aitken & Cohn
SCOTT BAUGH
Chairman, Republican Party
Central Committee
chairman, chief executive, president
Scott Baugh & Associates
JOHN CAMPBELL
48th district of California
U.S. House of Representatives
CHRISTOPHER COX
Chairman, Securities and
Exchange Commission
LUCETTA “LUCY” DUNN
Chief executive, president
Orange County Business Council
GARY HUNT
Partner
California Strategies LLC
JOHN MOORLACH
County supervisor, second district
ANDY POLICANO,
PAUL MERAGE
Dean, Paul Merage School of Business,
University of California, Irvine;
Chair, Dean’s advisory board
MIGUEL PULIDO
Santa Ana mayor
MICHAEL SCHROEDER
Lawyer, Republican adviser
