Hit Mailer whodunit: Adam's divided loyalties?
By Tyler Holcomb | 12/19/08 | 07:38 AM EDT | 0 Comments
Wednesday I posted about an Adam Probolksy hit mailer that angered many Irvine Republicans and that is widely viewed as the reason Council Member Stephen Choi removed Adam Probolksy from the Irvine Planning Commission.
Stephen has publicly declined to give a reason for Adam's removal beyond stating "it is not directly related to his political activities," but two well-informed Irvine political veterans not associated with the Republican slate told me what has local Republicans so upset: who was paying for Adam's "political activities." Specifically, many in Irvine believe that Adam was working with Straders, keystones of Larry Agran's funding base. Odd company for Adam to keep while he's trying to get hired by the the slate running against Agran.
Stephen has publicly declined to give a reason for Adam's removal beyond stating "it is not directly related to his political activities," but two well-informed Irvine political veterans not associated with the Republican slate told me what has local Republicans so upset: who was paying for Adam's "political activities." Specifically, many in Irvine believe that Adam was working with Straders, keystones of Larry Agran's funding base. Odd company for Adam to keep while he's trying to get hired by the the slate running against Agran.
The Straders have a long history in Irvine development, starting in 1972 when they helped Don Koll develop Koll Center Newport on Jamboree. More recently, the Straders have been promoting high-rise residential development in the Irvine Business Complex, including Central Park West and The Plaza Irvine. Newport Beach voters may recall that the Strader's Starpointe Ventures had a development adjacent to Irvine squashed by the "Greenlight Iniative" in 2001, so the Straders know the importance of cozying up to the right politicians.
The Strader's political stance within Irvine is crystal clear: They are Agranistas. Strader family members gave $17,333 for Larry Agran's fake newspaper. Tim Strader and Pat Strader are City of Irvine registered lobbyists for Heritage Fields El Toro ( Lennar's development at the El Toro airbase). City of Irvine has co-defended three lawsuits with Starpointe in the past year (OC superior courts cases 07CC01268, 07CC01267 and 07CC012644). Isn't it nice that Larry Agran's council majority is helping to shoulder the Strader's legal burdens? (The Straders are significant Republican donors at the state and federal levels.)
So, where does that leave us?
Many Irvine Republicans and non-Agran Democrats believe that Adam Probolsky was hired by Larry Agran allies to stage a hit on the head of popular local charity in a way that undermined Irvine Republicans. As one Team Irvine volunteer said to me, "Adam needs to decide who he wants to work for. If he wants to work for the Great Park, he should go off and do that."
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