The Insider spots a second Sim at The Irvine Company

Don’t expect the Irvine Co. to be without a Sim any time soon. While major domo Dick Sim, 64, scales back, daughter Danielle Sim, 40, is just arriving. She leaves Insignia ESG, where she’s been managing director of OC and San Diego, to fill a new post of senior VP of property operations. Danielle will oversee Insignia and other property managers who work for the company’s office and industrial divisions. Nepotism? Not likely. Danielle has been a powerhouse at Insignia, attested to by John Combs’ and Dave Pogue’s glowing remarks in a memo on her departure that went to all Western region employees. Danielle is proud of her dad but determined to make it on her own; she said she received assurances from the Irvine Co.’s Clarence Barker and Bill Halford (who she’ll report to) that father wasn’t behind her recruitment. “I like to stay under the radar,” said Danielle, expressing concern that any publicity not detract from her intent to be a “team player.” Danielle said she was able to work several years at Insignia before most people figured out the family connection. Danielle is the second-oldest of five Sim children and one of two in the real estate business; the other is an older sister with a married name, and why should the Insider blow her cover, too? Dropping in: Guv Gray Davis, for a fundraiser at the Santa Ana Performing Arts and Events Center hosted by Wylie Aitken, Mayor Miguel Pulido and Christopher Townsend; ex-Guv Pete Wilson, to address Curt Pringle’s poly sci class at UCI Lakers, Bruins and Trojans, move over: The Anteaters are winning, too. The UCI campus is in an uncustomary buzz over b-ball, with frantic calls to the alumni office for seats and students lined up in the morning at the Bren Center to claim their tickets before a sellout Speaking of which, what happens when Anteaters coach Pat Douglass, Henry Samueli, Dick Sim and EE RR engage in a free-throw contest? The billionaire wins. The “Broadcom Bomber” and his lessers will shoot it out again at the UCI Chief Executive Roundtable’s fundraiser for UCI sports on Feb. 22, during halftime of the Anteaters’ showdown against Long Beach State. Call Linda White-Peters at (949) 824-7933 Says Dr. Mike Glueck: “After the state Capitol was rammed by a truck, a police spokesman said that the area was a crime scene. We already knew that!” Instead of the usual Hollywood celebrity, the February cover of Orange Coast features Downtown Disney. Is this an aberration or a sign of things to come? “An aberration,” executive publisher Skip Johnson says emphatically. “Brooke Shields is right behind you.” Btw, the best new feature in the magazine is Peter Buffa’s rib-tickling column.