Nestande Takes Job With Argyros’ Firm : Former Supervisor Will Be ‘Special Counselor’ to Businessman

Former Orange County Supervisor Bruce Nestande, who resigned last week, said Wednesday that he has taken a job as “special counselor” to Newport Beach businessman George L. Argyros, owner of the Seattle Mariners baseball team and former partner in AirCal.

Nestande, who retains his appointive seat on the California Transportation Commission, has said he will be vice president for government relations at Argyros’ Arnel Development Co. but does not plan to appear before his former colleagues on the Board of Supervisors on the company’s behalf.

The Arnel firm has developed apartments and commercial office buildings along the San Diego Freeway west of South Coast Plaza and frequently battles Costa Mesa’s slow-growth advocates who oppose the company’s projects. Nestande said, however, that he may represent the firm before the Costa Mesa City Council since, “obviously, government is my area of expertise, and that’s what I have to offer.”

Improve Standing

Jon P. Paradis, a Costa Mesa lawyer and member of the North Costa Mesa Homeowners Assn., said Wednesday that Argyros could use Nestande’s help to improve the developer’s standing in the community.

“I guess I’m not surprised,” Paradis said of Nestande’s hiring. “Those who have had dealings with George L. Argyros have found him to be overly aggressive and combative. They need somebody to counter his way of relating to people, which hasn’t been good.”

Argyros could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

“I turned down several opportunities,” Nestande said Wednesday. “There are some very nice people out there. But I decided to work for George Argyros because he has been a close friend for years and I admire his operation. . . . I could have taken jobs with other companies that have projects pending before the Board of Supervisors, but I did not want to do that. As far as I know, Arnel doesn’t have any projects pending before the county board.”

Private Areas

Nestande would not discuss his salary or other job offers, saying:

“I’m not going to get into that. I’m a private citizen now and don’t have to tell you. I’m keeping that to myself.”

Of rumors that he might accept a state or federal appointment, Nestande said:

“I was approached about some government positions, but I had zero interest. I decided a long time ago that if I did not hold statewide office by the time I was 50, I would start a career in the private sector. And that’s just what I’ve done.”

Nestande, who has been under investigation by federal and local authorities in connection with the political corruption probe involving Anaheim fireworks manufacturer W. Patrick Moriarty, sought unsuccessfully to unseat Secretary of State March Fong Eu in last November’s election.

Nestande retired from the Board of Supervisors on his 49th birthday last week after declaring that the job was beginning to “lose its challenge” and added, “I do not want to become a lobbyist.”

Wednesday, however, he admitted that “government relations” work might involve “lobbying.” Asked to describe his new day-to-day tasks, Nestande replied: “As time goes on, the job will become more defined.”

Nestande resigned midway through his second four-year term, a move that allows Gov. George Deukmejian to appoint his successor. Previously, Nestande had been a Republican assemblyman for six years and before that an aide to then-Gov. Ronald Reagan.