Even before Barack Obama rolls out his 2.5 million-job stimulus package, local Democratic Party leaders are helping the president-elect to fill patronage jobs. Want to be an undersecretary in the new administration? Contact an ad hoc committee composed of OC party chairman Frank Barbaro, former chairman John Hanna, party donors Wylie Aitken, Mark Robinson and Michael Ray, county labor boss Nick Berardino, former state Sen. Joe Dunn and mayors Miguel Pulido, Sharon Quirk, Katrina Foley and Rose Espinoza. They’re sifting through applications (14 as of this column), deciding which will be forwarded with their stamp of approval to Obama transition chief John Podesta. Barbaro wants to finish the job by Dec. 14. He says the application form, which delves into personal matters and any written or broadcast statements a person has made, “is a killer …
I wouldn’t get past first base.” But only finalists need to divulge finances. Barbaro calls Obama’s grass-roots recruitment effort unprecedented. He says Republicans can apply, too …
The first official guests at the new Resort at Pelican Hill were locals: Newport Coast philanthropist and entrepreneur George Namkung (Namkung Promotions) and wife Joanne, celebrating their 36th wedding anniversary …
The consensus first impressions of the resort’s villas and amenities? As good as any in the world …
Speaking of which, Donald Bren has added another world-class talent to his Irvine Company resort team. Veteran hotelier Rick Evanich joins from the Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park, where he was GM, to assume the same duties, but with the title of managing director, at the Island Hotel in Newport Center. He reports to Resort Properties Prez Ralph Grippo, another Ritz-Carlton recruit. Evanich replaces another industry vet, Ray Jacobi, now a VP in the resort division …
Ben Seybold, CB Richard Ellis senior veep in Anaheim, reports trepidation among manufacturers and distributors. Not only are sales of industrial buildings down, so are long-term lease deals: Many prospects have “put their plans on hold or have requested short-term renewal proposals from owners” …
Special correspondent Jean Pasco forwarded some great lines from the Todd Spitzer roast, including a printable one by Susan Kang Schroeder: “When I was asked to speak, I said, WWTD? What would Todd do? Then I decided to stand here the whole time and talk about myself” …
Newlyweds: Mike Kartsonis, owner of Dynamic Fabrication in Santa Ana, and Melinda Morgan, who has added his last name to hers but left unchanged her company name, Morgan Marketing & PR …
Laguna Beach’s Valarie Whiting has been named to the board of environmental advocate Oceana. Whiting was an organizer of the international group’s Hollywood celeb-studded fundraiser in OC this past July … The Wooden Classic dinner Dec. 12 at the Anaheim Hilton features the coaches of the competing teams, the L.A. Times’ Bill Dwyre, saxophonist Richard Elliot and the legendary coach himself. The event benefits Orangewood and Special Olympics.
