The Baltic republic of Latvia has fewer people (two million) than OC, but its prime minister Valdis Dombrovskis got star treatment on his recent Southland trade mission. For that he can thank Rancho Santa Margarita cosmetic surgeon Juris Bunkis—and Botox. Dr. Bunkis, the son of World War II Latvian refugees, says he’s an “Americanized” transplant who was “very surprised” when the Latvian Embassy called and made him the country’s honorary consul for Southern California. Not knowing how to host a visiting head of state, Bunkis sought help from David Pyott, the globally savvy CEO of Allergan, supplier of the doctor’s Botox, Juvederm and breast implants. Pyott was happy to help a big customer. He hosted a roundtable for Dombrovskis at Allergan’s Irvine headquarters while Ed Reno, the company’s government affairs director, tended to the rest of the Latvian contingent’s itinerary. Reno called in OC Republican Party Chairman Scott Baugh and L.A. lawyer and trade expert Jeff Leader. Dombrovskis wound up meeting CEOs, lawmakers and other officials, addressing the World Affairs Council in L.A. and pitching Riga’s film industry to Warner Bros. execs. The prime minister and his entourage—all fans of “Baywatch,” Bunkis said—even donned official L.A. County Lifeguard swimming trunks for a dip at Santa Monica Beach…
Mike Harrah says he’s ready to move ahead (again) with construction of that long-delayed 37-story office tower in downtown Santa Ana. Harrah says he expects to finalize a lease with a corporate tenant for at least half the building next month and break ground in the fall. Harrah says that renders moot a recent court victory by project foes; they successfully argued that the city council’s waiver last year of a 50% pre-lease requirement violated terms of the 2005 vote approving the tower …
Peter Buffa is putting his political connections to work for some Wall Street boys. The former Costa Mesa mayor has closed his consulting business and given up his seat on the OC Transportation Authority board to become a public finance director for Barclays Capital. He’ll work on municipal bond deals in Southern California and on transportation projects nationally. Buffa says that for 25 years, “I’ve listened to bond counsels and investment bankers. It’s not a totally foreign environment. Now I’m on the other side of the table.” Buffa says he’ll continue to emcee charity events but will have to dial back the sarcasm “now that I’m with a reputable organization, unlike my own firm” …
Buffa isn’t the only local operative ceding a public transportation role—former Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle has resigned from the California High Speed Rail Authority board. Republican Pringle says he remains an enthusiastic backer of the controversial big-ticket project, but it was time to move on, focus on his government affairs practice and other responsibilities and let Democrat Gov. Jerry Brown pick his own director. Another OCer, Democrat Tom Umberg, chairs the board.
