New Standing for New Majority?; Will Daniele Dance?

History might someday deem last week’s debate-watching party hosted by the New Majority—with guest Newt Gingrich—at the Island Hotel just the sort of gathering that laid the groundwork for reshaping party politics in the U.S. … There’s seldom been a bigger opportunity for a third party, but none has gotten significant traction in this year’s presidential campaign. That leaves Democrats and Republicans to rejigger their platforms and approaches to offer new political homes to the disaffected, or perhaps shed some bad fits. It’s not hard to fathom some voting blocs switching camps over the next several years. It’s not a stretch, either, to imagine the New Majority’s focus on fiscal concerns and its generally live-and-let-live outlook on the social stuff could bring enhanced potential to come out of this election cycle as a cornerstone of party identity for the GOP … The old adage that all politics is local bodes well for Miguel Pulido as he seeks a 12th two-year term as mayor of Santa Ana. The city has been on a hot streak when it comes to positive press lately, and that continued last week when Pulido was among the dignitaries to accept honors from the American Planning Association, which named its downtown one of five neighborhoods to make the group’s Great Places in America list this year (see related news item, page 10) … Add a 2016 Life Sciences Leadership Award to the list of honors on David Pyott’s resume. The award will come from the California Life Sciences Association—which recognizes “California’s most innovative and dedicated life sciences leaders”—on Dec. 2 at the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco … The latest honors burnish the credentials that landed Pyott in the Hall of Fame section of our upcoming OC 500, a full book we will soon offer as a directory of influence for the community of business here. The low-down on Pyott’s placement is one sneak peek, and this photo is another. Be the first to email sullivan@ocbj.com with the correct location of this image, and you’ll get a free drink at Prego. Expect to see another version when the OC 500 goes out to subscribers along with the Nov. 14 print edition of our regular weekly issue … New president, new venue, and a new name for Chapman U.’s main fundraiser of the year. That’s all covered with the invite from President Daniele Struppa, who’s asking guests to join him at the Musco Center on Nov. 5 for Chapman Celebrates, a gala that takes the place of the annual American Celebration. Only question now is whether a new dance will be part of the show … Plenty else new for Chapman on the real estate front, according to our front-page report by Mark Mueller, who tracks some possible moves by the school for its operations over in the Spectrum … Sullivan says: The staffers who handle the old-fashioned phone line for the Transportation Corridor Agencies’ Toll Roads of Orange County should be studied for best practices on customer service … Elon Musk’s Tesla won’t have the Hollywood crowd to itself if fellow luxury hybrid maker Karma Automotive can help it. The Costa Mesa-based brand made a splash with a cover-wrap ad in the Oct. 18 issue of Variety.