Wilson Ties Don’t Necessarily Mean Gains for Firm, Sources Say

Have the relationships of Irvine Co. officials with Pete Wilson helped the company’s federal agenda during the senator’s term here? Not necessarily, say those familiar with the company.

Wilson is “always interested and sympathetic” but has not assumed the role of champion for any specific Irvine Co. project, said a source familiar with Wilson’s involvement with the Irvine Co. Wilson is not a member of either of the two Senate committees whose jurisdictions are most closely linked to Irvine Co. interests--the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

“Wilson is just not in a position to do anything directly for the Irvine Co., per se,” the source said.

Said Irvine Co. spokesman Larry Thomas: “I don’t know of any instance where Pete has called (Irvine Co. Chairman Donald Bren) and asked his advice on specific legislation or a specific vote.”

Wilson did sponsor amendments to the recently enacted Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 to place emissions standards on off-road vehicles, a move favored by the company. The company, like many other developers, was interested in tighter pollution controls on vehicles to avoid more restrictions on so-called non-point sources of air pollutions, such as parking lots at shopping malls.