CA: Lawyer, doctor picked as UC regents - Governor appoints Republicans, both alumni of system

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | August 19, 2006

[calcowgirl]

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed two well-connected Southern California Republicans to the University of California Board of Regents on Friday, filling two vacancies on the 26-member body.

William De La Pena, 52, is a prosperous ophthalmologist in Whittier (Los Angeles County) with chains of eye clinics serving Latino communities in East Los Angeles and Santa Ana.

Bruce Varner, 69, a civically involved Redlands lawyer whose clients include grocery chain Stater Brothers, is a friend and contributor to longtime Republican Rep. Jerry Lewis of Redlands (San Bernardino County). Lewis, who is under federal investigation for his ties to lobbyists and contractors, wrote a letter supporting Varner for regent last fall.

De La Pena, a cataract surgery pioneer, also owned the Los Angeles Salsa soccer club in the ill-fated American Soccer League in the mid-1990s. He has contributed no money to Schwarzenegger.

Varner has served on numerous boards and nonprofits in the Inland Empire. ...

As lawyer for Stater Bros., which is privately held, Varner helped negotiate the purchase of 160 acres of the former Norton Air Force Base to build a new $300 million company headquarters and distribution center.

Varner is a board member of Security Bank of California. Lewis and his wife bought $22,000 worth of shares in the bank in 2005. His campaign bought an additional $25,000 worth. Since Lewis' purchase, the share price has tripled.

Varner has contributed $4,000 to Lewis. His wife and son have each contributed an additional $2,000. He contributed $5,000 in April to Schwarzenegger's re-election campaign.

[calcowgirl]

http://gov.ca.gov/index.php/press-release/3573/

08/18/2006 GAAS:546:06 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Governor Schwarzenegger Appoints Two New Regents for the University of California

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today announced the appointment of William C. De La Pena and Bruce D. Varner to the Board of Regents for the University of California.

“As products of the renowned UC system, William and Bruce uniquely understand the vital role our public universities play in giving students a world-class education so they are trained for the 21st century economy. These men are both highly respected in their fields and will be a tremendous asset in ensuring the UC system remains affordable - because an investment in our students is an investment in California’s future,” said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

De La Pena, M.D., has served as ophthalmologist and medical director of De La Pena Eye Clinic since 1984. Previously, he was director of the Department of Ophthalmology for Santa Marta Hospital from 1984 to 2003 and the Doctor’s Hospital of Santa Ana from 1986 to 1990, an instructor of Ophthalmology for the University of California, Irvine from 1984 to 1990 and assistant clinical professor of Ophthalmology for the University of California, San Diego in 1982. De La Pena is chair of the Latin American and American Societies of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons as well as the World Federation of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons. In addition, he serves as a Regent for the Uniformed Services University in Bethesda, Md. De La Pena, 52, of Whittier, earned a Medical Doctorate degree from Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Mexico, a Bachelor of Science degree from the American School Foundation in Mexico City and performed his medical internship and residency at the University of California, Irvine. He is a Republican.

Varner has been a partner with the law firm Varner & Brandt since 1997, where he specializes in corporate and business law. He previously was associate and partner for the law firm Gresham, Varner, Savage, Nolan & Tilden from 1964 to 1997 and associate for Kindel & Anderson from 1962 to 1964. Varner currently serves on the University Advisory Board for California State University, San Bernardino and on the Board of Trustees for the University of California, Riverside Foundation. Additionally, he volunteers for numerous community organizations including a volunteer lieutenant for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office. Varner, 69, of Redlands, earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Hastings Law School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is a Republican.

These positions require Senate confirmation and there is no salary.

The Regents of the University of California are entrusted with the management and operation of the University of California system which includes more than 201,000 students and 160,000 faculty and staff, with more than 1.2 million alumni living and working around the world. The University's fundamental missions are teaching, research and public service. There are 26 Regents including the governor, who serves as president, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the Assembly, the superintendent of public instruction, the president and vice president of the University of California Alumni Association, the president of the University, one student, 2 faculty members (non-voting) and 18 public members appointed by the Governor to 12-year terms. As required by law, the Governor has submitted the names of his nominees to the Regents Selection Advisory Committee.

[Amerigomag]

Nunez restricts the purse and complains that Schwarzenegger has failed to appoint enough non-white ...

Republican activists are in the doldrums and observe that Schwarzenegger appoints too many Democrats.

The Austrian responds to his critics with De La Pena.

[calcowgirl]

Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
(Presidential Appointment - 2002)

The Honorable William DeLaPeña
Member, Board of Regents

Doctor DeLaPeña of California is the Medical Director of the DeLaPeña Eye Clinic and Director, Department of Opthalmology, Santa Morta Hospital, Los Angeles. He is also a Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Costa Rica. Dr. DeLaPeña devotes a significant portion of his time to the prevention and cure of eye diseases in both the U.S. and Latin America.
.

[Amerigomag]

Sorry bout that. Could have saved you the trouble of the graphic. Nunez's complaint was cultural, not racial.

[calcowgirl]

No apologies necessary. I wasn't trying to infer anything, I was just reading some stuff about him.

He is definitely of the same culture as Nunez. He reportedly was born in the US but was educated in Mexico (through medical school). In the early 1990s, Mayor Tom Bradley introduced him to Alan Rothenberg of the Los Angeles law firm of Manatt, Phelps, Rothenberg and Phillips (Charles Mannatt was the chairman of the DNC). Through Rothenberg, he became the commissioner of the American Professional Soccer League (APSL) and owner of the "Salsa" soccer team. He also ran some Spanish language TV stations in Miami, one of which he labeled WDLP (his initials).

[Amerigomag]

An irony is that Nunez certainly knows the difference. His public, political pandering however, is necessarily directed to an unsophisticated audience, his constituency. Unfortunately, so are many members of this forum, obviated by the reply from RJL.

FR might be better served to add another general topic: Urban Myths, or Basic Concepts or more succinct; Frequently Posted Misconceptions.

[calcowgirl]

I give up. RJL?

[Amerigomag]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1686081/posts?page=10#10

[NormsRevenge]

Looks like he is running out of dems to appoint..

[calcowgirl]

Don't let the labels fool you:

VARNER, BRUCE D     VARNER SALESON & BRANDT/ATTORNEY      2/24/2006  $1,600  Feinstein, Dianne
VARNER, BRUCE D     VARNER SALESON & BRANDT/ATTORNEY      2/24/2006  $1,000  Feinstein, Dianne
VARNER, BRUCE D MR  VARNER SALESON & DOBLER LLP/ATTORNE   4/18/2006  $1,300  Calvert, Ken
VARNER, BRUCE D MR  VARNER SALESON & DOBLER LLP/ATTORNE   4/18/2006    $700  Calvert, Ken