Walker Early to OC; Doti Direct; RMV’s Next Generation

Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker will get a dress rehearsal for any presidential ambitions he might harbor—at least the part where a candidate hits up OC’s vaunted base of GOP donors. Walker has won plaudits within the party for standing his ground with public employee unions—sort of a Chris Christie with Midwestern manners. That’s made him a lightning rod for Democrats, though, who tried to recall him in 2012. Walker beat that back—and now comes the regular election schedule, which means he must finance his third statewide race in the past four years. This one is against Democratic nominee Mary Burke, a Harvard MBA with a personal fortune that stems largely from Trek Bicycle, a company founded by her father. Her personal fortune and recent polls that put her neck-and-neck with Walker explain why OC GOP Chair Scott Baugh, Wayne Linholm and Taylor Talt will have Walker over to AnQi this week for a $2,500-a-plate luncheon … An email from Jim Doti went directly to Chapman University students last week after “a good deal of confusion” followed his recent recommendation to the Faculty Senate that Chancellor Daniele Struppa eventually succeed him as president of the school. Doti reiterated that he has no immediate plans to retire, said he would give at least a year’s notice, and noted that Chapman’s trustees had asked him to give his recommendation to the Faculty Senate as a reflection of their “belief in the principle of shared governance.” The email also offered a practical reason to appoint Struppa as “presidential designate.” Doti said he believes “this succession plan would eliminate the possibility of Daniele leaving Chapman to accept a presidency at another school.” Struppa has been in the chancellor’s job for the past eight years, gaining skills that have led to a “growing stature in higher education,” according to Doti … Members of the next generation of Rancho Mission Viejo LLC will get a chance to show their stuff on the social-and-philanthropic circuit when they take on responsibility for the Gentlemen’s Haberdashery, an annual fundraiser for Heart of Jesus Retreat Center in Santa Ana. Melinda and Tony Moiso will ride herd as honorary chairs, along with Eden and George O’Connell. Moiso daughters and sons-in-laws—Frandy and Jeremy Laster, and Trina and Marc Lamkin—have stepped into the role of cohosts for the luncheon and fashion show. Jeremy Laster is treasurer for Rancho Mission Viejo, and Marc Lamkin serves as vice president for community development. The Haberdashery is scheduled for April 9 at the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Call the Sisters of the Society Devoted to the Sacred Heart at (949) 274-1192 for more information or tickets … Kudos: to Irvine PD Chief Dave Maggard on his recent Joe Molloy Award, the highest honor granted by the California Police Chiefs Association … Slainte: to Dan Callahan, who gets this tip of the hat for having had the good form to open Callahan & Blaine on St. Patrick’s Day in 1984 … Pass the uisce beatha: Callahan will surely join in a toast to fellow Hibernian Bill O’Hare’s shop, Snell & Wilmer, which is marking its 25th anniversary in OC this year. … Nothing Irish about this: the Insider nonetheless recommends the Bento box lunch at Big Canyon.