Coastal property is still rising: The Irvine Company has sold a four-fifths-of-an-acre, custom-home site in Crystal Cove for a record $7.55 million, the Insider hears …
Co-chief government prosecutor John Hueston isn’t the only OCer involved in the high-profile Enron trial. On the defense side, Laguna Niguel PR consultant Michael Nason provided pretrial coaching to former Enron chairman Kenneth Lay. Nason said he recommended Lay’s “pre-emptive strike” press conference and counseled Lay to keep his supportive wife Linda at his side. Nason has handled PR for the Rev. Robert Schuller, for an ex-lover of Monica Lewinsky and for estranged heir J. Howard Marshall III, who sided with stepmom Anna Nicole Smith against his brother Pierce in the estate battle that now is at the Supreme Court. Nason (married to KNBC’s Vikki Vargas) is currently advising In-N-Out trustee Rich Boyd, who has sued other company execs and heiress Lynsi Martinez. Nason said he met Lay through their mutual friend Terry Giles, a former OC criminal lawyer and versatile businessman (Pacific National Bank, Toyota of Garden Grove, currently Landmark Education Enterprises) now living in Texas. Nason said beating the rap will be tough but he thinks Lay can do it. Nason hasn’t been in Houston for the trial nor is he currently on retainer with Lay: “Ken’s about broke” …
Most inspirational man on the face of the earth: OC fitness legend Augie Nieto, refusing to let Lou Gehrig’s Disease get him down, was in the South African bush last week on a game drive. Next up is “The Bash.” About 2,500 are expected in Las Vegas for the March 22 event, featuring Lance Armstrong, the Doobie Brothers and “Chief Inspiration Officer” Augie. The goal is to raise a record $2.5 million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. (More info at www.augiesquest.com). Augie, who has already raised $1 million for ALS research, will also host the Gift of Hope Gala June 4 at the St. Regis Monarch Beach honoring Wing Lam, Ed Lee and Mingo Lee of Wahoo’s Fish Taco …
Entrepreneur/ author/former Marine pilot Quang X. Pham is exploring a run for the 47th congressional seat this fall as an independent against formidable incumbent Democrat Loretta Sanchez. “I want to help her retire so she can run for governor!” The Insider notes Pham may have crossover appeal,he speaks Spanish and his middle name of Xuan sounds just like Juan. By the way, there are 47 Quang Phams registered to vote in OC …
The Governator, tied up with infrastructure-bond negotiations in Sacramento, canceled last week’s meeting with the Lincoln Club; rescheduling expected …
His and hers: The 119 OCBJ Excellence in Entrepreneurship nominees include two couples with separate businesses,Kim Welch (Before the Stork 4D Ultrasound) and David Welch (Austin Taylor), and Mona Lisa Faris (Professional Woman’s Magazine) and Peter Placey (California Tax Data). Info on this Wednesday’s luncheon at www.ocbj.com.
